Disaster Aid to Individuals Tops $1.7 Million
Release Date: January 15, 2001
Release Number: 1354-21
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Little Rock, AR -- Disaster assistance for individuals, families and businesses in the declared counties in Arkansas now exceeds $1.7 million, state and federal recovery officials said today. More than 19,873 residents applied for assistance as of Jan. 15.
Federal Coordinating Officer Joe D. Bray of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said housing grants have reached $1,447,542 in the declared counties to fund essential emergency repairs that make homes livable or to cover the cost of alternate housing for homeowners or renters whose dwellings are unlivable due to the ice storms.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved $63,400 in low-interest disaster-recovery loans for businesses and individuals. SBA loans are the primary means of restoring or replacing uninsured or underinsured disaster-damaged real estate, personal property and business facilities.
State Coordinating Officer David Maxwell said the state-administered Individual and Family Grant Program assisted 239 households in the declared counties with a total of $227,313. This help, funded 75 percent by FEMA and 25 percent by the state, helps meet serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other assistance programs.
The Presidential disaster declaration makes residents eligible to apply for a variety of state and federal disaster-recovery assistance programs. Anyone with disaster-related losses should call FEMA's toll-free registration number 800-462-9029 or 800-462-7585 for hearing- or speech-impaired persons.
If you have already applied for assistance and need information about disaster-related programs or the status of a filed application, call the Helpline at 800-525-0321 (800-462-7585 for hearing- or speech-impaired persons).
Last Modified: Tuesday, 04-Nov-2003 12:34:32