Federal Aid Programs for Maryland Disaster Recovery
Release Date: September 29, 1999
Release Number: 1303-08
» More Information on Maryland Hurricane Floyd
OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- In the aftermath of Hurricane Floyd, Governor Parris N. Glendening applied for federal aid to assist citizens of Maryland recover from storm and flood damage.
On September 24, President Clinton issued a disaster declaration for 11 Maryland counties. The declaration makes key federal disaster aid programs available to residents of those counties through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Following is a summary of programs for individuals.
Assistance for Affected Individuals and Families Can Include the following as needed:
- Rental payments for temporary housing for those whose homes are unlivable. Initial assistance is provided for up to three months for homeowners and at least two months for renters. Assistance may be extended if requested after the initial period based on a review of individual applicant requirements.
- Grants for minimal repairs are available to qualified homeowners who need to make damaged homes habitable. These grants are only for needed repairs not covered by insurance.
- Grants to help meet medical, dental, funeral, transportation, essential home repairs, essential personal property repair or replacement, and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other federal, state and charitable aid programs. Typical grants average about $2,100. Contents of refrigerators and freezers are not covered.
- Unemployment payments up to 26 weeks for workers who temporarily lost jobs because of the disaster and who do not qualify for state benefits. This group includes self-employed individuals.
- Low-interest loans to cover residential losses not fully compensated by insurance. Loans available up to $200,000 for primary residence; $40,000 for personal property, including renter losses. Loans available up to $1.5 million for business property losses not fully compensated by insurance.
- Loans up to $1.5 million for small businesses that have suffered disaster-related cash flow problems and need funds for working capital to recover from the disaster's adverse economic impact. This loan in combination with a property loss loan cannot exceed a total of $1.5 million.
- Loans up to $500,000 for farmers, ranchers and aquaculture operators to cover production and property losses, excluding primary residence.
- Other relief programs: Crisis counseling for those traumatized by the disaster; income tax assistance for filing casualty losses; advisory assistance for legal, veterans benefits and social security matters.
Affected individuals, families and business owners in the designated counties can begin the disaster application process by calling 1-800-462-9029 (1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired) from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (EDT) seven days a week until further notice. Applicants registering for aid should be prepared to provide basic information about themselves (name, permanent address, social security number, phone number), insurance coverage and any other information to help substantiate losses.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 03-Dec-2003 10:15:22