Illinois Disaster Aid Exceeds $7 Million
Release Date: July 25, 2008
Release Number: 1771-034
» More Information on Illinois Severe Storms and Flooding
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- More than $7.2 million in federal disaster assistance grants and loans has been approved so far by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for Illinois residents who suffered damages and losses during the severe storms and flooding that began June 1.
To date, 2,548 homeowners and renters from the 18 designated counties have applied for disaster assistance.
- $5,061,565 in grants has been approved for Illinois applicants.
- $4,647,394 in housing assistance to cover temporary rental assistance, home repairs and replacement.
- $414,171 in Other Needs Assistance to cover personal property losses, medical, dental, funeral, transportation or other serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance.
- $2,203,800 in U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loans has been approved for 45 disaster assistance applicants.
- 1,943 disaster loan applications have been issued, 1,492 to residents and 451 to business owners.
More than 1,300 Illinois residents have visited FEMA's Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) for face-to-face meetings with disaster recovery specialists.
FEMA and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency currently have six DRCs open throughout the state to assist applicants with their disaster recovery applications. Those who sustained damages or losses during the early June severe storms and flooding are urged to register with FEMA before visiting a DRC.
To register, all that is required is to make one toll-free phone call to FEMA's registration/Helpline, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Applicants with a hearing- or speech-impairment who have TTY equipment should call TTY 1-800-462-7585. The telephone lines are available from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., daily. Applicants also can register online at www.fema.gov.
The DRCs are staffed with disaster recovery specialists from federal, state and other agencies, and are open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Their locations are:
- Adams County (open until 4 p.m., Aug. 2), Illinois Veteran's Home, 1707 N. 12th Street, Quincy
- Lawrence County (open until 4 p.m., Aug. 1), Parkview Junior High School, 1802 Cedar Street, Lawrenceville
- Mercer County (open until 7 p.m., July 26), Keithsburg City Building, 302 S. 14th Street, Keithsburg
- Rock Island (open until 7 p.m., July 26), Milan Municipal Building, 405 East 1st Street, Milan
- Warren County (open until 7 p.m., July 26), Huff Athletic Building, Monmouth College, 700 E. Broadway, Monmouth
- Winnebago County (open until 4 p.m., Aug. 8), Michelsen's Office Furniture Building, 8020 N. 2nd Street, Machesney Park.
Anyone who has applied for disaster assistance and has received a disaster-loan application from the SBA is urged to complete and return it as soon as possible. If SBA determines that a homeowner or renter is ineligible for a loan, that applicant automatically will be referred to FEMA for other possible grant assistance.
The counties designated eligible for Individual Assistance are: Adams, Calhoun, Clark, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Hancock, Henderson, Jasper, Jersey, Lake, Lawrence, Mercer, Rock Island, Whiteside and Winnebago. Individual Assistance can include grants to help pay for temporary housing, essential home repairs and other necessary disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance.
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: Friday, 25-Jul-2008 15:54:49