Help Available for Flood Victims in Nine More Wisconsin Counties
Release Date: September 8, 2007
Release Number: 1719-009
» More Information on Wisconsin Severe Storms and Flooding
LA CROSSE, Wis. -- The FEMA toll-free application telephone number and on-line registration are now available for residents of Columbia, Dane, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Kenosha, Racine and Rock counties according to officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Wisconsin Emergency Management (WEM).
These counties join those named in the August 26 declaration which includes Crawford, La Crosse, Richland, Sauk and Vernon counties that suffered property damage or loss from the severe storms and flooding that occurred August 18-31.
Those affected by the storm and flooding should register their damage at www.fema.gov anytime or by calling toll-free 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week until further notice. Anyone with speech or hearing impairment may call TTY 1-800-462-7585.
Disaster assistance may include:
- Grants to help pay for temporary housing and home repairs to make a home habitable
- Grants for serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance
- Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for individuals and business owners to cover residential and business losses not fully compensated by insurance
Residents who applied for disaster assistance can expect to hear from an inspector who will schedule a visit to look at damaged property. FEMA schedules inspections within about a week to verify losses. The SBA also sends loss verifiers to inspect damaged property of those who have submitted completed loan applications. Local building and safety inspectors may come to see if damaged structures are safe. All of these inspectors should carry photo identification with them and there is no fee for these inspections.
Individuals who qualify for FEMA's Individual and Households Program, will receive a government check or the funds can be directly deposited into the individual's designated bank account. A separate letter also will be sent explaining how the funds may be used. Checks from other programs may come later.
Anyone who receives an SBA loan application needs to complete the application and send it in to maintain their eligibility for loans and grants. It is important that individuals keep in touch with FEMA if they change addresses or receive an insurance settlement, by calling the helpline at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), TTY at 1-800-462-7585 for the hearing or speech impaired.
FEMA disaster assistance covers basic needs only and will not normally compensate victims for their entire loss. For those with insurance, the government may help pay for basic needs not covered by insurance.
The SBA is the federal government's primary source of money for the long term rebuilding of disaster damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private, nonprofit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts, and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.
For residents in the Richland county area, the Disaster Recovery Center operating at 301 Industrial Drive in Richland Center, will close at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 9. However, the SBA Disaster Loan Assistance Center will remain open at that location Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. until further notice.
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, 10-Sep-2007 09:19:35