Disaster Assistance For Indiana Tops $15.5 Million 

Release Date: August 8, 2003
Release Number: 1476-31

» More Information on Indiana Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

Kokomo, IN -- In just one month since the Presidential disaster declaration of July 11, more than $15.5 million has been made available to assist in the recovery of more than 5,000 Indiana residents affected by the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that began on Independence Day.

To date, $9,678,496 in grants and $5,912,200 in low-interest loans have been approved for Indiana residents who have applied for disaster assistance, according to figures released today by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Indiana State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).

Those who suffered damages or loss from the tornadoes, flooding and severe storms that began July 4 through August 6 can still apply for assistance by calling the FEMA toll-free application number, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Those with speech or hearing impairment can call TTY 1-800-462-7585. Both lines are open 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday thru Saturday. The deadline to apply for assistance is Tuesday, September 9.

Most federal and state disaster assistance programs are designed to meet emergency needs in the form of disaster grants for immediate housing requirements and emergency repairs. These programs are meant to help people begin their recovery; they are not designed to return people's lives to their pre-disaster conditions.

By contrast, low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) help homeowners, renters and business owners repair or replace their disaster-related damages. SBA is the primary source of long-term disaster recovery loans for homeowners, renters, and businesses of all sizes.

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 August 7:

Crisis Counseling: People who have gone through a disaster such as a tornado and flooding 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 1-800-564-6460. The phone line is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Another form of disaster assistance available to victims of the tornadoes, severe storms and flooding is Disaster Legal Assistance provided by the State 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 1-800-266-2581 and tell the operator you are a FEMA applicant. The first available attorney will return your call as soon as possible.

Voluntary Agencies are still providing services to victims of the disaster who have immediate needs. Indiana Voluntary Agencies Active in Disaster and the Information and Referral Network, Inc. have set up an Indiana Flood Helpline for information and referrals to recovery resources and cleanup assistance. Call 888-259-2683, daily, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. or register anytime at www.earss.com.

Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) are open for disaster victims to meet face-to-face with representatives from FEMA and other assistance agencies and get their questions answered about disaster assistance. The following centers are open 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday until further notice:

Two recovery centers that closed today will reopen on Monday, August 11, as SBA Workshops. Both locations will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday until further notice.

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) The SBA has issued 3,517 loan applications to homeowners and 792 to business owners. Officials urge applicants to complete their loan paperwork as soon as possible, even if they have not received a final settlement from their insurance company. If the loan application is not returned it will delay other forms of disaster assistance. SBA representatives are available at all Disaster Recovery Centers for applicants who need assistance completing their loan paperwork.

On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages Citizen Corps, the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.

Disaster Assistance by County

MEDIA NOTE: The following chart shows a county-by-county breakdown of telephone applications received and grants approved for the Individuals and Households Program in the Indiana disaster-declared counties. All figures are as of close of business, Thursday, August 7. 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.

    Individuals and Households Program Grants     Individuals and Households Program Grants
County Apps Rcvd Grants Approved Amount Approved County Apps Rcvd Grants Approved Amount Approved
Adams 313 209 $774,938 Kosciusko 9 6 $9,511
Allen 434 290 $632,380 Madison 107 71 $158,235
Benton 0     Marion 137 70 $139,321
Blackford 15 10 $18,416 Miami 114 91 $165,702
Boone 14 8 $21,687 Montgomery 8 5 $16,152
Carroll 165 117 $572,028 Morgan 16 13 $46,697
Cass 233 138 $363,856 Newton 28 18 $40,534
Clay 57 19 $22,418 Noble 1    
Clinton 34 25 $107,028 Parke 165 37 $44,471
Delaware 167 104 $212,667 Pulaski 10 7 $10,896
Fountain 9 5 $30,950 Randolph 12 7 $17,676
Fulton 4     Tippecanoe 69 51 $228,303
Grant 61 36 $87,473 Tipton 133 88 $313,685
Hamilton 84 63 $274,899 Vigo 28 12 $45,722
Hancock 6 4 $6,032 Wabash 27 18 $32,885
Henry 18 9 $19,847 Warren 9 9 $23,338
Howard 1,900 1,336 $4,247,660 Wayne 10 5 $8,871
Huntington 58 37 $86,979 Wells 238 190 $389,130
Jasper 136 89 $261,029 White 76 38 $102,646
Jay 51 41 $132,066 Whitley 11 3 $9,140

Last Modified: Friday, 08-Aug-2003 15:59:43