Kansas Recovery Update: $17 Million In Grants And Loans
Release Date: June 1, 2007
Release Number: 1699-017
» More Information on Kansas Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
WICHITA, Kan. -- Just four weeks after severe storms, tornadoes and flooding devastated areas of Kansas, more than $17 million in federal grants and loans have been approved.
Housing assistance has been provided for 582 families, according to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Kansas Division of Emergency Management (KDEM) officials.
To reach those affected by this disaster, FEMA Community Relations staff has been working in the designated counties to inform residents of the assistance available to them. Because of the widespread damage, many Kansans are dispersed far from their storm-ravaged homes.
Individual Assistance
Individuals in 18 Kansas counties may be eligible for assistance with uninsured damages caused by the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that occurred between May 4 and 18. These counties are: Barton, Clay, Cloud, Comanche, Edwards, Kiowa, Leavenworth, Lyon, Osborne, Ottawa, Phillips, Pratt, Reno, Rice, Riley, Saline, Shawnee and Stafford.
To date:
- 2,145 Kansans visited Disaster Recovery Centers where they received help from experts in disaster recovery.
- Over 2,100 Kansas households have registered for disaster assistance.
- Over $3 million has been approved through FEMA's Individuals and Households Program. That includes $2.4 million in grants for housing assistance and more than $656,000 for Other Needs Assistance, which may pay for uninsured personal property losses and disaster-related medical, dental and funeral expenses.
Disaster Recovery Centers are operating seven days a week in the following locations:
- Haviland - Barclay College, Hockett Auditorium, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Greensburg - east side of Courthouse Square, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Great Bend - Great Bend High School parking lot, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Ottawa County - Ottawa County Lake State Park, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Salina - 145 S. Broadway, Salina, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Other Disaster Recovery Centers will open as necessary to assist Kansans.
Residents in need of assistance are urged to register immediately by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). The TTY number is 1-800-462-7585 for applicants with special speech or hearing needs. Registration is also available on the Internet at www.fema.gov.
SBA Disaster Loan Program
The U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is the federal government's primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property.
SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations fund real estate repairs or rebuilding efforts, and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover uninsured and uncompensated losses and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.
- To date, SBA has approved over $14.2 million in disaster loans to residents and business owners in Kansas to repair or replace their disaster-damaged real estate, personal property and business assets.
SBA representatives are at all Disaster Recovery Centers to meet individually with each resident or business owner to answer any questions about SBA's disaster loan program, help them complete their disaster loan application and accept their completed applications. Anyone not able to visit a center should call
1-800-659-2955 for SBA assistance or visit the website at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.
Public Assistance
Local governments and certain eligible private nonprofit organizations in 31 counties - Barton, Chase, Cherokee, Clay, Comanche, Dickinson, Doniphan, Douglas, Edwards, Ellsworth, Harper, Jackson, Kingman, Kiowa, Leavenworth, Lincoln, Lyon, Nemaha, Osage, Osborne, Ottawa, Pottawatomie, Pratt, Reno, Rice, Riley, Saline, Shawnee, Stafford, Wabaunsee and Washington - may apply for Public Assistance grants for debris removal, emergency services related to the disaster, and the restoration of damaged public facilities.
- Almost $260,000 (federal share) in FEMA Public Assistance grants has been approved.
- There are 86 eligible applicants for FEMA Public Assistance to date.
FEMA Public Assistance grants are made on a cost share basis. FEMA funds 75 percent of the cost for approved work and the remaining 25 percent comes from state and local resources. The state of Kansas manages the grants for all projects.
FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
Last Modified: Monday, 04-Jun-2007 13:17:49