Federal Aid To Illinois Residents Tops $1.2 Million 

Release Date: June 8, 2001
Release Number: 1368-08

» More Information on Illinois Flooding

Rock Island, IL -- Federal and state disaster assistance to residents of ten Illinois counties who suffered damage or loss as a result of the Mississippi River floods of April and May has passed the $1.2 million mark.

Officials of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) report that 588 individuals, families and business owners have called to apply for assistance in the 30 days since President Bush declared ten Illinois counties a federal disaster area. Disaster Housing grants totaling $506,948 have been approved for 468 applicants. The Individual and Family Grant Program has approved payments to 13 applicants totaling $12,068 to cover damage or loss not covered by other programs.

As of the close of business Thursday, June 7, the number of applicants and total approved Disaster Housing grants by county are as follows:

COUNTY APPLICANTS APPROVED DISASTER
HOUSING GRANTS
Adams 15 $4,310
Calhoun 6 1,211
Carroll 56 26,913
Hancock 45 33,392
Henderson 62 51,494
Jo Daviess 81 87,480
Mercer 6 869
Pike 2 0
Rock Island 252 253,318
Whiteside 56 47,960
Undeclared 7  

To date, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved $711,800 in low-interest disaster loans to 29 homeowners, renters, and non-farm businesses of all sizes to help cover the costs of repair or replacement of damaged real estate, personal property and business assets not fully covered by insurance or other aid. The SBA is the primary source of federal funds for long-term disaster recovery.

Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in Moline, East Dubuque and Dallas City have closed operations. More than 170 persons who had already applied for disaster assistance were served by the three temporary centers, which answered questions about federal/state assistance programs, the status of their applications, or low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

Those who were unable to visit a DRC or still have questions are encouraged to call the Disaster Information HELPLINE . The toll-free Helpline number is 1-800-525-0321. Those with hearing or speech impairment can call (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. The deadline for applications for disaster assistance is July 9, 2001.

The first step in receiving Individual state and federal assistance made available under the May 9 Presidential declaration is to apply by calling the toll-free FEMA teleregistration number: 1-800-462-9029; (TTY) 1-800-462-7585 for speech and hearing impaired. Homeowners, renters and businesses in Adams, Calhoun, Carroll, Hancock, Henderson, Jo Daviess, Mercer, Pike, Rock Island and Whiteside counties are eligible to apply for assistance for repairs of damaged homes and businesses, or loss of personal property during the April-May flooding.

The presidential declaration (as amended) also makes all categories of Public Assistance programs available to help eligible state and local governments, public agencies and certain private non-profit organizations recover the approved costs of debris removal and emergency protective measures, as well as reimbursement for public facilities damaged or destroyed by the flooding, such as roads, bridges, dams, public buildings and public parks.

Potential applicants from governmental entities who were unable to attend the briefings held recently are encouraged to call the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) at 1-217-782-8719 for more information.

It is important to understand that Individual Assistance programs are for homeowners, renters and business owners to recover from damage or loss of property. Public Assistance programs are to reimburse governmental entities, such as cities, townships, counties , state units and eligible private non-profit organizations to recover approved costs of flood damage to public property or services required during flood response.

Last Modified: Monday, 27-Oct-2003 09:34:24