FEMA Adds 14 Counties For Disaster Assistance 

Release Date: March 27, 2003
Release Number: 1454-11

» More Information on Kentucky Severe Winter Storms

Richmond, KY -- Disaster assistance has been made available in 14 additional Kentucky counties to help residents recover from the effects of the severe winter storms of February, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today.

Residents in these counties who suffered losses should apply for assistance immediately by calling the toll-free registration number, 1-800-621-3362, available 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday until further notice. Those with a speech or hearing impairment may call a special TTY number at 1-800-462-7585.

The new counties are Anderson, Clay, Elliot, Estill, Knox, Lawrence, Magoffin, Mason, Menifee, Morgan, Nicholas, Powell, Rowan and Woodford. These join 15 counties declared eligible for individual assistance on March 14 by President Bush. The number was expanded based on a review of damage data gathered in continuing assessments by federal and state disaster recovery officials.

In addition, Casey County joins 51 others declared eligible for assistance to state and local government agencies for debris removal and repair and restoration of public infrastructure damaged by the violent weather.

"We remain committed to ensuring that every qualified family and business gets the assistance they are eligible to receive," said Gracia Szczech, the FEMA official in charge of federal recovery operations. Szczech said residents of the added counties who suffered disaster damage are eligible to apply for assistance programs that include funding for temporary housing and home repair, disaster unemployment assistance, grants for essential needs not met by other programs and U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest loans to repair or replace damaged property.

Callers are advised to have the following information available to facilitate the application process:

DISASTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM INFORMATION

When disaster strikes, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) administers a number of disaster assistance programs and coordinates the efforts of many other federal agencies that provide services to help people through the recovery process. The types of assistance that are available follow.

Federal Emergency Management Agency Programs

DISASTER HOUSING ASSISTANCE: Housing assistance to individuals and families whose permanent homes were damaged or destroyed by the storm. Types of aid include grants for: alternate rental housing; emergency repairs needed to make a residence habitable; and mortgage or rental assistance in cases where the disaster has caused extreme economic hardship.

INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY GRANT PROGRAM: Grants to individuals and families to meet serious disaster-related needs and necessary expenses not covered by insurance or other federal, state or voluntary agency disaster assistance programs.

DISASTER UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE: Weekly benefits to individuals out of work due to the disaster, including self-employed persons, farm owners and others not usually covered under regular unemployment insurance.

U.S. Small Business Administration Programs

HOME/PERSONAL PROPERTY DISASTER LOANS: Disaster loans to homeowners and renters for restoring or replacing underinsured or uninsured disaster-damaged real and personal property. (Available in declared counties.)

BUSINESS DISASTER LOANS: Disaster loans to repair or replace destroyed or damaged business facilities, inventory, machinery, equipment, etc. not covered by insurance. (Available to large and small businesses in declared counties.) Loans also may be available to small businesses for working capital to assist them during the disaster recovery period. (Available in declared and contiguous counties.)

Last Modified: Friday, 28-Mar-2003 10:40:35