Indiana Update: More Than $31 Million in Assistance Approved 

Release Date: October 24, 2008
Release Number: 1795-031

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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- One month after a federal disaster was declared in Indiana due to severe storms and flooding, $31,675,486 in recovery grants and loans has been approved for renters, homeowners and business owners in 20 affected counties.

"Hoosiers affected by the disaster are making steady progress toward recovery," said Stephen M. DeBlasio, Sr., head of recovery operations in Indiana for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). "We're proud FEMA has been able to assist Indiana residents in recovery efforts. Much work remains, so we're asking affected residents to help us help you.  If you haven't yet registered for assistance, do so today. And if you have registered, be sure to keep your contact information updated with FEMA so we can deliver aid as efficiently as possible to those who qualify."

The president declared a major disaster for Indiana on Sept. 23. A total of 21,082 residents in designated counties have applied for disaster assistance, according to FEMA and the Indiana Department of Homeland Security.

$23,804,786 in Individual Assistance funds has been approved. Of this, $20,305,720 has been approved for housing assistance and $3,499,066 for assistance with other needs, such as medical expenses and damage to personal property.

Currently, 86 FEMA inspectors are verifying damage from the disaster. To date, 15,461 home inspections have been completed.

Four federal-state Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) are operating in affected counties. The locations are:

At the DRCs, residents can speak face-to-face with recovery experts and check on the status of applications for assistance. So far, 29,964 visits have been made to Indiana recovery centers.

In addition to FEMA assistance, low-interest disaster loans are available from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for homeowners, renters, businesses and non-profit organizations. So far, the SBA has approved $7,870,700 in loans and issued 12,078 applications for home loans and 1,710 applications for business loans.

Disaster loans can cover uncompensated losses for personal contents up to $40,000 for both homeowners and renters, and up to $200,000 for homeowners for physical damage to their primary residence. The SBA also provides low-interest loans up to $2 million for uncompensated physical losses suffered by businesses and private non-profit organizations.  Businesses may also be eligible for working-capital loans. The combination of the two business loans cannot exceed $2 million.
Residents who receive an SBA disaster loan application in the mail after applying with FEMA should be sure to complete the application, even if they aren't sure they want a loan. Completing the SBA application is an important step in being considered for FEMA's Other Needs Assistance program, which covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

The first step toward receiving disaster assistance from FEMA or the SBA is to register with FEMA.

To register, affected residents can go online at any time to www.fema.gov. Or they can call FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), or at TTY 1-800-462-7585 for those with speech or hearing impairments. Residents can update contact information at the same numbers. Lines are open 24 hours a day through Sunday, Oct. 26. Beginning Monday, Oct. 27, they will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.

Individual Assistance can include grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses. Twenty Indiana counties have been designated for Individual Assistance programs related to the severe storms and flooding from Sept. 12 through Oct. 6: Clark, Crawford, Dearborn, Floyd, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Jennings, Knox, Lake, LaPorte, Lawrence, Martin, Perry, Pike, Porter, Scott, Spencer, Switzerland and Washington.

In addition, 32 counties have been designated for the Public Assistance program, which includes reimbursements to state and local governments and certain private non-profits for emergency measures, debris removal, and repairs to public buildings and critical infrastructure. Counties newly designated for Public Assistance on Oct. 24 are Decatur, Dubois, Floyd, Franklin, Gibson, Jackson, Lawrence, Martin, Newton, Ohio, Orange, Perry, Pike, Rush, Spencer, Union, Vanderburgh and Warrick. They join the following previously designated counties: Clark, Crawford, Dearborn, Fayette, Harrison, Jefferson, Jennings, Lake, Porter, Ripley, Scott, Switzerland, Washington and Wayne.

Legal Services, Crisis Counseling, Disaster Unemployment Assistance Available

Free disaster legal services are available in designated counties.  Residents can call 1-800-266-2581 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday for assistance with insurance claims, repair contracts, replacement of legal documents, mortgage foreclosure and landlord/tenant issues related to the disaster.

Through Project Aftermath, free crisis counseling is available to residents of Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties for help coping with the disaster and its effects. The hotline – 1-866-679-4631 – is attended from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. The program is federally funded and administered by Indiana's Family & Social Services Administration, through the Division of Mental Health and Addiction.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance may be available for individuals out of work due to the disaster. Application deadlines are Oct. 27 for residents of Lake, LaPorte and Porter counties; Nov. 3 for those in Harrison, Jefferson and Jennings counties; Nov. 5 for those in Clark, Crawford, Dearborn, Jackson, Knox, Lawrence, Martin, Pike, Spencer and Switzerland counties; and Nov. 17 for Floyd, Perry, Scott and Washington counties. Applications are being taken at any WorkOne Center or online at uplink.in.gov/CSS/CSSCreateAccount.htm.

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, 27-Oct-2008 08:50:28