Disaster Assistance Tops $10.3 Million; Nearly 3,500 Call To Apply 

Release Date: June 28, 2002
Release Number: 1416-18

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

Springfield, IL -- The total of disaster assistance has topped $10.3 million for approved grants and low-interest loans to many of the 3,419 Illinois residents who have already called to apply.

According to figures released by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), at the close of business on June 27, the following numbers of people have applied for or received assistance:

Application Deadline Set for July 20

Individuals, families, and business owners who suffered losses, which occurred between April 21 and May 23 in the 68 declared counties, have until July 20 to apply for disaster assistance. Damages that occurred after the incident period closed (May 23) will not be eligible. Residents can apply by calling FEMA's toll-free number, 1 800 621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1 800 462-7585 for the speech or hearing impaired. These numbers are available 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

Government disaster assistance covers basic needs only and will not normally compensate you for your entire loss. If you have insurance, the government may help pay for basic needs not covered under your insurance policy. Some disaster aid does not have to be paid back, while other forms of help may come in the form of loans. The FEMA representative will explain the details to you when you call.

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

The SBA continues to operate temporary disaster loan assistance offices in six Illinois counties to help individuals and businesses with their disaster loan applications. The offices will be open until further notice at these locations and times:

Mt. Vernon 227 South 9th Street
Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Edwardsville Madison Cty Govt. Admin. Bldg. (ground floor) 157 N. Main St.
Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Decatur American Red Cross, Mid Ill. Chapter, 500 East Lake Shore Dr.
Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Cairo 1st Nal. Bank (8th St. & Washington St.) 800 Washington Street
Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Springfield Property Management Center, 200 East Lake Drive
Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Fairview Heights Fairview Heights Fire Station # 1, 10045 Bunkum Road,
Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

SBA officials urge applicants to complete their loan application packet and return it as soon as possible, even if they have not received a final settlement from their insurance company. If the loan application packet is not returned it will delay other forms of disaster assistance. Nearly 2,300 disaster loan packets have been issued, 1,850 renters/homeowners and 427 packets to business owners.

Disaster Housing Assistance

Individuals and families whose permanent homes were damaged or destroyed in a declared county by the recent tornadoes, severe storms and flooding may be eligible for Disaster Housing Assistance. This assistance may be used for alternate rental housing, emergency essential repairs to make a residence habitable, or mortgage or rental assistance in cases where the disaster has caused extreme economic hardship. A total of 438 grants have been issued for rental assistance and 1,632 for emergency essential repairs. These grants, totaling $2,866.441 may be just the initial type of assistance that residents are eligible to receive.

IFG Program Meets Serious Disaster-Related Needs

Another $901,988 has also been approved for 566 applicants referred to the Individual and Family Grant (IFG) Program. Administered by the IEMA, the program provides grants to individuals and families to meet serious disaster-related needs and expenses not covered by insurance, other federal, state, or voluntary agency disaster assistance programs. FEMA provides 75 percent of the funds for the IFG grants and the state covers the remaining 25 percent.

Media Note: The following chart shows a county-by-county breakdown of individual housing assistance. All figures are as of close of business, Thursday, June 27. While the number of applicants (APPS) for each county is listed, the housing grant dollar amount is not listed if there are less than three approved claims for that county.

COUNTY APPS APPR'D CLAIMS HOUSING GRANTS
Adams 8 4 $4,283
Alexander 190 142 167,355
Bond 15 3 8,888
Brown 0 0 0
Calhoun 29 15 31,463
Cass 34 22 41,279

COUNTY APPS APPR'D CLAIMS HOUSING GRANTS
Champaign 6 5 $6,191
Christian 72 46 87,857
Clark 6 6 6,597
Clay 10 3 3,198
Clinton 26 4 7,157
Coles 70 45 52,793
Crawford 7 3 2,260
Cumberland 6 0 0
DeWitt 0 0 0
Douglas 26 16 24,935
Edgar 6 3 8,574
Edwards 3 0 0
Effingham 33 19 27,915
Fayette 31 14 18,581
Ford 3 0 0
Franklin 30 13 14,090
Fulton 6 3 3,914
Gallatin 2 0 0
Greene 16 10 19,677
Hamilton 4 0 0
Hancock 5 3 4,258
Hardin 2 0 0
Iroquois 7 4 6,003
Jackson 10 5 12,560
Jasper 23 10 11,690
Jefferson 20 5 6,358
Jersey 26 11 20,036
Johnson 37 13 25,517
Lawrence 28 15 $22,689
Logan 4 0 0
Macon 258 175 240,611
Macoupin 79 51 90.516
Madison 179 125 230,230
Marion 26 14 9,561
Mason 41 32 72,943
Massac 0 0 0
McDonough 2 0 0
Menard 14 8 8,053
Monroe 2 0 0
Montgomery 30 21 26,445
Morgan 20 16 27,571
Moultrie 15 6 8,288
Perry 11 4 4,630
Piatt 8 6 9,724
Pike 9 5 9,212
Pope 10 0 0
Pulaski 11 8 13,454
Randolph 12 5 7,650
Richland 28 23 50,820
Saline 26 10 10,023
Sangamon 267 178 271,541
Schuyler 14 9 13,656
Scott 21 12 20,470
Shelby 28 10 14,648

COUNTY APPS APPR'D CLAIMS HOUSING GRANTS
St. Clair 1,279 762 $897,839
Union 94 35 55,024
Vermilion 53 41 56,679
Wabash 7 3 8,251
Washington 4 3 4,372
Wayne 59 12 9,641
White 14 9 17,964
Williamson 7 4 6,043

Last Modified: Tuesday, 19-Aug-2003 16:02:52