North Dakota Disaster Recovery Update: Federal Disaster Assistance Tops $80 Million
Release Date: October 18, 1999
Release Number: 1279-45
BISMARCK, N.D. -- The following is a summary of ongoing response and recovery efforts in North Dakota through October 17, 1999:
- Statewide, 12,321 North Dakota households and businesses in 42 declared counties and four Indian Reservations registered for state and federal disaster assistance.
- The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) disaster housing program has provided grants of more than $17 million to individuals to assist with temporary housing and minor home repairs.
- More than 6,000 households have been referred to the Individual and Family Grant (IFG) program for basic disaster needs not covered by insurance or other programs. IFG may also assist with increased electric bills as a result of excessive use of residential water and sump pumps. The program has paid out more than $1 million thus far.
- Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA), which is administered through North Dakota Job Service and funded by FEMA, for individuals who lost income because of the disaster, including farmers, ranchers, farm workers, migrant farm workers, and other self-employed individuals. More than 6,800 claims for DUA were filed and more than $10.8 million has been paid.
- FEMA and the state have obligated more than $41.7 million for Public Assistance, which includes funds for debris removal and, the repair of roads, bridges, public buildings and utilities. The federal cost share for Public Assistance has been adjusted to 90 percent rather than 75 percent due to the impact of this disaster.
- The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved more than $9.1 million in low-interest disaster loans for home and business repair including preventative measures.
- Individuals who have questions about disaster assistance programs or who need to update their registration information can call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-525-0321 (TTY for the speech- and hearing-impaired: 1-800-462-7585). The line is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 16-Dec-2003 09:44:48