Release Date: October 24, 2002
Release Number: 1433-28
» More Information on Indiana Severe Storms and Tornadoes
Indianapolis, IN -- Disaster assistance for tornado victims in Indiana is as close as the nearest phone, state and federal officials remind those seeking help in recovering from the Sept. 20 storms. But the time remaining to make that call is drawing to a close. The last day to apply for state/federal disaster assistance is November 25.
"We encourage tornado victims who still need assistance to let us know. A telephone call is all it takes," said State Coordinating Officer Patrick R. Ralston with Indiana State Emergency Management (SEMA).
Those who suffered damages or loss from the tornadoes and severe storms
of September 20 can apply for assistance by calling the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) toll-free application number,
1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Those with a speech
or hearing impairment can call TTY 1-800-462-7585.
Both lines are open 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (EST) seven days a week.
More than $5.6 million in low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and disaster housing grants from FEMA (to help make a damaged home livable or to rent alternate accommodations) have been approved for Indiana residents who have applied for disaster assistance. Also $538 thousand has been obligated for other unmet disaster related needs by the Individual Family Grant Program (IFG), jointly funded by FEMA and the state. These latest figures were released today by SBA, FEMA and SEMA.
Local, state and federal recovery officials and voluntary organizations have combined efforts to assist victims of the severe weather in putting their lives back together. This is a summary of recovery activities as of close of business October 24:
Disaster Unemployment Assistance: The deadline is nearing for people to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance. Those interested in applying must do so at their local WorkOne Center by Monday, October 28. The program, which is administered by the state and funded by FEMA, is available to help individuals affected by the disaster who are not covered by regular unemployment insurance. Those interested should first call the FEMA toll-free application line at 1-800-621-FEMA (TTY 1-800-462-7585), then apply at a local WorkOne Center. WorkOne Centers can be found by calling 1-888-WORKONE or by going to the Dept. of Workforce Development web site at www.workforce.IN.gov.
Crisis Counseling: People who have gone through a disaster such as a tornado may experience trouble sleeping, anxiety, irritability, depression and lack of concentration. Talking about disaster experiences and sharing feelings about them will help people feel better about what has happened. Those interested in crisis counseling services should call 1-800-344-8802. The phone line is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This assistance has been made available for children and adults affected by the tornadoes and severe storms through a grant from FEMA to the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction. The program provides for individual and family therapy and culturally appropriate supportive counseling.
Disaster Legal Assistance: Another form of
disaster assistance available to victims of the tornadoes and severe storms
is legal advice provided by the Young Lawyers Division of the American
Bar Association. These disaster legal services are meant for low-income
individuals who, prior to or because of the disaster, are unable to secure
legal services adequate to meet their needs. To contact one of these attorneys,
call
1-866-336-8276. The first available attorney will return your call as
soon as possible.
Voluntary Agencies: Several organizations are still providing services to victims of the disaster who have immediate needs. American Red Cross, Salvation Army and various faith-based organizations have contributed many hours to the cleanup efforts and recovery process. Disaster victims with unmet needs can call their local chapter of American Red Cross or 317-684-1441 for referral to a local chapter.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has established workshops to help those who would like assistance with filling out their loan packet. The locations and hours of operation are:
Disaster Assistance by County
The following chart shows a county-by-county breakdown of Disaster Housing assistance, Individual and Family Grant Program assistance and U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loans. All figures are as of close of business, Wednesday, October 23.
County | Applications Received | Disaster Housing Program | Individual and Family Grant Program | SBA Disaster Loans for Individuals and Businesses | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Grants Issued | Amount Approved | Grants Issued | Amount Approved | Loans Issued | Amount Approved | ||
Bartholomew | 1 | * | * | * | * | * | 0 |
Brown | 1 | * | * | * | * | * | 0 |
Daviess | 1 | * | * | * | * | * | 0 |
Delaware | 18 | 3 | $4,298 | * | * | 4 | $128,300 |
Grant | 6 | * | * | * | * | * | 0 |
Greene | 2 | * | * | * | * | * | 0 |
Hamilton | 1 | * | * | * | * | * | 0 |
Hancock | 18 | * | * | * | * | 6 | $101,500 |
Henry | 6 | * | * | * | * | 2 | $8,700 |
Jay | 2 | * | * | * | * | * | 0 |
Johnson | 73 | 3 | $2,108 | * | * | 5 | $272,800 |
Knox | 18 | * | * | * | * | 5 | $310,600 |
Madison | 45 | * | * | * | * | 4 | $205,200 |
Marion | 1176 | 301 | $231,934 | 147 | $410,873 | 64 | $2,009,600 |
Monroe | 76 | 15 | $10,630 | 9 | $34,194 | 21 | $801,100 |
Morgan | 296 | 50 | $45,087 | 13 | $40,315 | 28 | $936,900 |
Owen | 3 | * | * | * | * | * | 0 |
Posey | 25 | 9 | $11,772 | 5 | $46,153 | 5 | $336,200 |
Rush | 4 | * | * | * | * | * | 0 |
Sullivan | 1 | * | * | * | * | * | 0 |
While the number of applicants for each county is listed, the number of grants and the amounts are not listed if there are less than three approved claims for that county in order to preserve the privacy of individuals. * denotes less than three in that category.
Last Modified: Thursday, 31-Jul-2003 12:06:47