Indiana Recovery Update: Assistance Tops $11 Million
Release Date: November 3, 2006
Release Number: 1662-021
» More Information on Indiana Severe Storms and Flooding
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Disaster assistance for Indiana residents who suffered damages as a result of the severe storms and flooding that occurred Sept. 12 - 14 have received more than $11.3 million in grants and loans to help them on the road to recovery, according to figures from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Indiana Department of Homeland Security.
The following is a snapshot of disaster recovery operations, as of close of business Nov. 2:
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A total of 3,857 Lake and 790 Vanderburgh county residents have applied for federal disaster assistance. Warrick County was designated for disaster assistance on Nov. 1 and 21 residents have applied. The deadline to apply for assistance in all three disaster-designated counties is Tuesday, Dec. 5.
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Under FEMA's Individuals and Households Program, a total of $6,652,961 in housing grants has been approved. Disaster housing assistance comes in the form of grants for temporary housing needs and for homeowners to make essential repairs.
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A total of $584,551 in Other Needs Assistance (ONA) grants has been approved. ONA provides for uninsured or under-insured disaster-related necessary expenses and serious needs, which may include grants for medical, dental, personal property, transportation and other expenses that FEMA approves.
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The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved 64 low-interest disaster loans, totaling $4,121,800, and issued 3,257 applications to homeowners and renters and 312 to businesses. Applicants who receive SBA loan applications must complete and return them to SBA to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.
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So far, 4,105 inspections have been completed by trained FEMA housing inspectors.
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Disaster Recovery Centers in the affected areas have served 1,407 residents, providing information about disaster assistance, Internal Revenue Service (tax) issues, mental health counseling, ways to reduce damages from future storms and completing SBA disaster loan applications.
Help Still Available
Information services are still available to applicants who may have questions about disaster assistance. FEMA individual assistance and mitigation specialists, along with SBA customer service representatives, will continue to be available at the following locations in the affected areas:
Lake County
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Lincoln Center, 2450 Lincoln Street, Highland
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Calumet Township Trustee Office, 1900 W. 41st Avenue, Gary
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National Guard Armory, 2530 173rd Street, Hammond
Vanderburgh County
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Indiana National Guard Armory, 3300 East Division, Evansville
Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2 and Friday, Nov. 3
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, beginning Monday, Nov. 6 through Thursday, Nov. 9
Additionally, information about disaster assistance is only a phone call away. Applicants may call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) to ask questions about the status of disaster assistance applications and what type of assistance is available. Those with a speech or hearing impairment may call TTY 1-800-462-7585. Phone lines are open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (local time) seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available to answer calls.
Anyone who may have suffered damages or loss from the severe storms and flooding that occurred Sept. 12 - 14 in Lake, Vanderburgh or Warrick counties should call and apply at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Online registration is available at www.fema.gov.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA)
DUA is available for residents of the designated counties who lost work as a direct result of the disaster and meet eligibility requirements. The program is administered by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (IDWD). Applications must be submitted no later than Friday, Nov. 10, 2006. Residents of Lake and Vanderburgh counties may file their DUA claims at the following locations:
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Lake: Gary WorkOne, 1776 W. 37th Ave, Gary, IN 46409-1840 (219-981-1520)
Hammond WorkOne, Columbia Plaza Center, 6431 Columbia Ave., Hammond, IN 46320
(219-933-8332) -
Vanderburgh: WorkOne Evansville, 700 E. Walnut St., Evansville, IN 47713 (812-424-4473)
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Warrick: Boonville WorkOne Express, 224 W. Main St., Boonville, IN 47601 (812-897-4700)
Disaster Legal Services
Volunteer attorneys are providing free, disaster-related legal assistance to individuals affected by the disaster. The service, coordinated through the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division and FEMA, is available by calling 1-800-266-2581 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
FEMA's temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must complete and return them to SBA to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.
FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident, initiates mitigation activities and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA works closely with state and local emergency managers, law enforcement personnel, firefighters and other first responders. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Friday, 03-Nov-2006 15:48:13