Marion And Pearl River Counties Designated For Individual & Household Program Assistance
Release Date: May 19, 2003
Release Number: 1459-26
» More Information on Mississippi Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding
Jackson, MS -- Disaster assistance for Marion and Pearl River counties has been made available to help homeowners, renters and business owners recover from the effects of the recent severe storms, tornadoes and flooding April 6th through 25th in Mississippi, the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today.
Michael D. Brown, FEMA director and Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response at the Department of Homeland Security, said the disaster assistance was approved based on a review of damage data gathered by federal and state disaster recovery officials. The counties were added for the aid under the major disaster declaration issued by President Bush on April 24, 2003.
"We remain committed to delivering assistance wherever it's needed and to making sure that every qualified individual, family and business owner receives the help they need to get back on the road to recovery," Brown said.
Affected residents and business owners in Marion and Pearl River counties may apply for assistance immediately by calling FEMA's toll-free application line, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., everyday until further notice. Those with a speech or hearing impairment may call a TTY 1-800-462-7585.
Brown said calling these numbers is the only way to apply for a wide range of state and federal disaster assistance programs that can include funding for temporary housing, U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest loans for individuals and businesses to repair or replace damaged property, disaster unemployment assistance, and grants for other needs and necessary expenses not met by other programs.
Callers are advised to have the following information available to help speed up the application process:
- Your current phone number.
- Your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are staying now.
- Your Social Security number, if available.
- A general list of damages and losses you suffered.
- Good directions to the property that was damaged.
- If insured, your insurance policy number, or the agent's and company name.
- General financial information.
DISASTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM INFORMATION
When disaster strikes, FEMA administers a number of disaster assistance programs and coordinates the efforts of many other federal agencies that provide services to help people through the recovery process. The types of assistance that are available follow.
Federal Emergency Management Agency Programs
INDIVIDUAL & HOUSEHOLD PROGRAM: Housing assistance to individuals and families whose permanent homes were damaged or destroyed by the storm. Types of aid include grants for alternate housing or necessary emergency repairs to make a residence habitable. Also available are grants to individuals and families to meet certain other disaster-related needs and necessary expenses not covered by insurance or other federal, state or voluntary agency disaster assistance programs.
DISASTER UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE: Weekly benefits to individuals out of work due to the disaster, including self-employed persons, farm owners and others not usually covered under regular unemployment insurance.
U.S. Small Business Administration Programs
HOME/PERSONAL PROPERTY DISASTER LOANS: Disaster loans to homeowners and renters for restoring or replacing underinsured or uninsured disaster-damaged real and personal property.
BUSINESS DISASTER LOANS: Disaster loans to repair or replace destroyed or damaged business facilities, inventory, machinery, equipment, etc. not covered by insurance. This is available to large and small businesses in declared counties. Loans also may be available to small businesses for working capital to assist them during the disaster recovery period.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 20-May-2003 09:28:55