One Month Remains to Register for FEMA Assistance
Release Date: June 22, 2007
Release Number: 1702-020
» More Information on South Dakota Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
SIOUX FALLS, S.D.-- South Dakota residents and business owners in the 11 counties designated for Individual Assistance who sustained damage during the May 4-5 severe storms, floods and tornadoes still have one month to apply, said officials of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the state Office of Emergency Management.
July 23, 2007 is the last day applications will be accepted for Individual Assistance and U.S. Small Business Administration loans (SBA) for homeowners or renters to repair or replace damaged real estate or personal property.
"We want people to understand that this deadline is for new disaster applications," said Justin Dombrowski, Federal Coordinating Officer. "For those who already have applied, their cases will continue to be processed."
The eleven South Dakota counties that have been declared eligible for Individual Assistance are Beadle, Brown, Clark, Davison, Hanson, Hutchinson, Marshall, Miner, Sanborn, Spink and Yankton.
Federal and state disaster recovery officials urge those who have not applied, to do so as soon as possible by calling the toll-free application number at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585 for the speech or hearing impaired. Individuals may also register for disaster assistance at the FEMA website www.fema.gov.
After the application deadline on July 23, FEMAs toll-free phone lines will still be available to assist those who have already registered. Applicants who have questions about the disaster assistance programs or questions about the status of their previously filed applications should continue to use FEMA's toll-free number.
People can also access state assistance by calling South Dakota's help line at 1-866-737-8998 from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. -1 p.m. on Saturdays, until further notice. This number can also be used to request face-to-face assistance with the disaster aid registration process.
Here is a summary of disaster recovery activities to date:
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$16 million in disaster grants and low-interest loans for South Dakota homeowners, renters and business owners who sustained damages resulting from the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding May 4-5, 2007.
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4,435 South Dakotans have applied for disaster assistance by calling the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
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$5.8 million in grants to 2,929 households have been approved by FEMA for home repairs and temporary alternate housing.
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Individuals and families have received more than $400,000 in Other Needs Assistance to help meet other essential disaster-related needs such as medical expenses, transportation and personal property not covered by insurance or other aid programs.
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Low-interest disaster loans totaling $11.1 million have been approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to help homeowners and renters, businesses of all sizes, and private, nonprofit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts, and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.
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The state has provided $631,000 in emergency disaster aid to more than 600 people in the form of vouchers for food and clothing, and help with prescription drugs.
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5,066 South Dakotans have visited Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs). The centers provide information about various disaster recovery programs including state-based services, individual and household assistance, disaster unemployment benefits, SBA low-interest disaster loans, and guidance on rebuilding wisely.
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Outreach teams representing the state and FEMA have contacted or left printed information for people in 6,179 households. In addition, teams have visited 1,294 businesses, 434 churches and community-based organizations, and have made more than 300 visits to local officials providing information on assistance programs and how to apply.
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FEMA inspectors have completed inspections of 3,968 homes assessing storm- and flood-related damages in an important step toward possible grants for repairs and replacement costs.
- 388 requests for Public Assistance are being processed by FEMA workers, for more than 1,000 individual projects.
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: Friday, 22-Jun-2007 13:31:34