Minnesota Disaster Seven Week Recovery News Summary 

Release Date: August 2, 2002
Release Number: 1419-48

» More Information on Minnesota Severe Storms, Flooding and Tornadoes

Moorhead, MN -- Federal, state, local and voluntary agencies are working in partnership to help Minnesota residents in 19 counties following flooding in June. Below is an update of activities to date:

* In the seven weeks since President Bush issued a major disaster declaration, FEMA has approved a total of $4,825,801 in Disaster Housing grants, which include temporary rental assistance for those whose homes have been severely damaged and funds to make essential repairs. At close of business on Thursday, August 1, some 4,090 Minnesota residents in the disaster designated counties had applied for assistance. Below is a county-by-county breakdown of applicants and approved monies:

COUNTY APPLICATIONS APPROVED DISASTER HOUSING GRANTS
Becker 69 $ 63,240
Beltrami 39 $26,756
Clay 60 $77,386
Clearwater 94 $83,721
Itasca 69 $57,978
Kittson 33 $25,052
Koochiching 221 $ 120,289
Lake of the Woods 223 $ 160,993
Mahnomen 379 $ 462,129
Marshall 46 $17,963
McLeod 123 $ 115,587
Norman 293 $ 309,892
Pennington 10 $9,165
Polk 87 $56,588
Red Lake 58 $47,691
Roseau 1,657 $2,297,003
Wright 629 $ 774,958

The seventeen Minnesota counties listed above are eligible for both individual and public assistance. Goodhue and Hubbard Counties are eligible for public assistance only. Public assistance allows local governments to apply for federal assistance to fund 75 percent of the approved costs for debris removal, emergency protective measures, and repairing, restoring or replacing damaged public facilities.

In addition, $840,737 has been approved for Minnesota residents in the eligible 17 counties through FEMA's Individual and Family Grant program.

To date, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved $19,142,000 in low-interest disaster loans. The SBA is the primary source of federal funds for long-term disaster recovery for owners of private property, including homeowners, renters, non-farm businesses of all sizes and private non-profit organizations. These low-interest loans cover costs of repair or replacement of damaged real estate, personal property and business assets not fully covered by insurance or other aid.

Residents and business owners in eligible counties who sustained damage or loss have until August 13 to begin the disaster application process by calling 1-800-621-3362 or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. Phone lines are available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

A Disaster Recovery Center is currently open in Roseau at the Ram's Sports Center, 809 - 6th Street NE weekdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. until August 9.

Last Modified: Tuesday, 19-Aug-2003 14:02:40