Disaster Grant Program Assists Families on Pine Ridge
Release Date: August 30, 1999
Release Number: 1280-34
» More Information on South Dakota Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes
RAPID CITY, S.D. -- The State of South Dakota has approved more than $329,000 in grants for 200 households on the Pine Ridge Reservation. As part of the tornado recovery effort, the State activated a grant program to help people with the cost of disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other relief programs, according to disaster recovery officials.
The program, referred to as the Individual and Family Grant (IFG) Program, is funded 75 percent by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and 25 percent by the State of South Dakota.
"The IFG program provides a safety net for people who have exhausted all other means of assistance and still have serious and necessary needs not met by other disaster assistance programs," FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Pete Bakersky said.
Individual and Family Grants are a last resort and, in most cases, are only available if an applicant has been denied a disaster loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). These grants may be used to cover disaster-related expenses such as essential home repairs, replacement of essential personal property or transportation. Grants also may be used for items not normally covered under the SBA Disaster Loan Program such as disaster-related medical and dental expenses.
The Individual and Family Grant program is one of the many assistance programs triggered by the major disaster declaration, which President Clinton issued on June 9 at the request of Governor Janklow.
Disaster victims do not directly apply for IFG grants, but must already be registered for disaster assistance through FEMA.
Last Modified: Monday, 15-Dec-2003 16:37:12