Disaster Assistance For June Storms Tops $20 Million
Release Date: July 27, 2007
Release Number: 1711-025
» More Information on Kansas Severe Storms and Flooding
WICHITA, Kan. -- More than $20 million ($20,061,246) in assistance has been approved to date by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) as they continue to assist the state of Kansas and the Kansas Division of Emergency Management (KDEM) in the recovery from the severe storms and flooding that began June 26.
Disaster recovery efforts through July 26 include:
- 3,317 individuals and households from 23 designated counties have applied for assistance as a result of President Bush's July 2 declaration of a major disaster. September 4 is the last day individuals can apply for FEMA assistance under the July 2 declaration.
- More than $11 million ($11,197,985) in Housing Assistance has been approved to cover rental assistance, temporary lodging and housing repairs.
- More than $2 million ($2,610,461) in Other Needs Assistance (ONA) has been approved to cover personal property loss, medical costs and other serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance.
- 4,882 people affected by the disaster have met with recovery experts at Disaster Recovery Centers set up throughout the region to provide help.
- 164 public entities (counties, cities, certain private non-profit agencies) have applied for federal assistance. These requests currently are being evaluated and additional requests are being received. Qualifying jurisdictions can be partially reimbursed for eligible emergency protective measures, debris removal, and the repair or replacement of damaged facilities and infrastructure.
- The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved more than $6 million ($6,252,800) in low-interest disaster loans to Kansas residents and businesses. The SBA provides low-interest loans to homeowners, renters, non-profit organizations and businesses of all sizes.
SBA representatives are at all DRC locations to explain how SBA low-interest disaster loans can help homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations pay for their disaster losses, according to SBA officials. They also will meet with applicants one-on-one and assist them in filling out their loan 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.
Under the July 2 declaration and subsequent amendments, FEMA Public Assistance grants are authorized to assist state and local government agencies and certain private nonprofit organizations with the response to and recovery from the disaster in 21 counties: Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, Butler, Chautauqua, Cherokee, Coffey, Cowley, Crawford, Elk, Franklin, Greenwood, Harper, Labette, Linn, Miami, Montgomery, Neosho, Osage, Wilson, and Woodson. For more information, governmental and private, non-profit organizations in these counties should contact their local emergency management officials.
Residents in the 23 counties eligible for Individual Assistance under the July 2 declaration and subsequent amendments who suffered damage from the storms and flooding that began June 26 should call and register for assistance no later than September 4.
The 23 counties now eligible for Individual Assistance are Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, Butler, Chautauqua, Cherokee, Coffey, Cowley, Crawford, Edwards, Elk, Franklin, Greenwood, Harper, Labette, Linn, Miami, Montgomery, Neosho, Osage, Pawnee, Wilson, and Woodson.
Eligible residents can call the toll-free registration line at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. Operators are available seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., CDT, or register anytime online at www.fema.gov.
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: Tuesday, 02-Oct-2007 14:18:27