Black Hawk, Buchanan, and Delaware Counties Added to Federal Disaster Declaration
Release Date: May 31, 2008
Release Number: 1763-006
» More Information on Iowa Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
DES MOINES, Iowa -- Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division (HSEMD) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that Individual Assistance (IA) has been expanded to include two additional counties, Black Hawk and Buchanan. Public Assistance (PA), all categories is now also available for Black Hawk, Butler, Buchanan and Delaware counties under the federal presidential declaration for severe storms, tornadoes and flooding beginning May 25.
Residents and business owners who suffered damage from the severe storms and tornadoes of May 25, live in Black Hawk, Buchanan or Butler counties, and have not registered for assistance, should call 1-800-621-3362 (FEMA) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for the speech - and hearing-impaired. Online, register at www.fema.gov.
Telephone lines are open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, Central Daylight Time. Online registration is available 24 hours. Registrants must provide their correct name and Social Security number, address of the damaged property, and insurance information.
Assistance to individuals could include grants to help pay for temporary housing needs, make essential home repairs for homes rendered unsafe and unsanitary, and provide other serious disaster-related expenses, such as medical care and transportation.
FEMA's Public Assistance program, available in all four counties, reimburses local and state agencies and certain nonprofit agencies for expenses incurred during the response phase of the disaster and helps with costs associated with debris removal and repairing and rebuilding infrastructure. It is a cost-share program with FEMA providing 75 percent of eligible costs to repair and rebuild public infrastructure.
Also, low-interest rate loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are available to eligible homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private nonprofit organizations to help them recover from losses not fully compensated by insurance or FEMA payments.
Even if you have registered with other agencies and organizations for help, you must register with FEMA to have access to FEMA and state disaster programs. Assistance is for damage to primary residences only; renters may apply for aid for personal property, and landlords may apply for SBA loans to repair rental properties.
Registrants will be asked to provide correct names and Social Security numbers, address of the damaged property, insurance information, and contact information, including address and telephone number.
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: Tuesday, 03-Jun-2008 12:33:53