Federal Aid Programs For Missouri September Storms, Flooding And Tornado Disaster Recovery
Release Date: November 13, 2008
Release Number: 1809-001
» More Information on Missouri Severe Storms, Flooding, and a Tornado
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Residents and businesses of 15 Missouri counties and the City of St. Louis who suffered damage from the severe storms, flooding and tornado during the period of Sept. 11-24 should register immediately to be considered for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
Those who have incurred damage from the September storms can now apply to FEMA for a wide range of Individual Assistance (IA) programs available to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private non-profit organizations. The counties include: Boone, Callaway, Chariton, Lewis, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Osage, Schuyler, St. Charles, St. Louis, Stone, Taney, Texas, and Webster Counties and the Independent City of St. Louis.
Registering for disaster assistance with FEMA is often the first step in the recovery process. Those affected by the September storms and who registered for assistance from previous disasters will need to apply separately for disaster assistance for this specific event. Once registered, the following types of aid can become available, as needed and warranted:
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Rental payments for temporary housing for those whose homes are unlivable. Initial assistance may be provided for up to three months for homeowners and at least one month for renters. Assistance may be extended if requested after the initial period based on a review of individual applicant requirements.
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Grants for home repairs and replacement of essential household items not covered by insurance to make damaged dwellings safe, sanitary and functional.
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Grants to replace personal property and help meet medical, dental, funeral, transportation and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other federal, state and charitable aid programs.
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Unemployment payments up to 26 weeks for workers who temporarily lost jobs because of the disaster and who do not qualify for state benefits, such as self-employed individuals, including farmers.
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Low-interest loans to cover residential losses not fully compensated by insurance. Loans available up to $200,000 for primary residence; $40,000 for personal property, including renter losses. Loans available up to $2 million for business property losses not fully compensated by insurance. These are made available through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
- SBA loans up to $2 million for small businesses that have suffered disaster-related cash flow problems and need funds for working capital to recover from the disaster's adverse economic impact. This loan in combination with a property loss loan cannot exceed a total of $2 million.
There are several programs available from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture specifically for farmers, ranchers and aquaculture operators. These can include USDA Farm Service Agency loans of up to $500,000 to cover production and property losses.
There are other assistance programs available for individuals, homeowners, and businesses through the USDAs Rural Development agency.
Other relief programs include crisis counseling for those traumatized by the disaster; income tax assistance for filing casualty losses; advisory assistance for legal, veterans benefits and social security matters.
FEMA disaster recovery experts urge Missourians in the affected areas to register with the agency even if they have insurance. FEMA does not duplicate insurance payments, but applicants who are under-insured may be reconsidered after claims have been settled.
Registration with FEMA is required separately from registration with any other disaster relief organizations.
FEMAs toll-free registration helpline is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays through Saturdays until further notice. To register, call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for the speech- or hearing-impaired.
Online registration is available anytime at www.fema.gov.
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: Monday, 17-Nov-2008 16:26:41