$1.2 Million In Disaster Assistance To Five Minnesota Counties
Release Date: October 15, 2004
Release Number: 1569-006
» More Information on Minnesota Severe Storms and Flooding
OWATONNA -- In the one week since President Bush issued a disaster declaration on October 7, already $1,243,558 in grants has been approved to assist flood-stricken residents in south central Minnesota, according to figures released today by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Minnesota Department of Public Safety's Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM).
Local, state and federal recovery officials and voluntary organizations have combined efforts to assist victims of the severe weather in putting their lives back together. This is a summary of recovery activities as of close of business October 14:
- 684 individuals from the five designated counties of Dodge, Faribault, Freeborn, Mower and Steele have called to apply for assistance
- 328 applications have been approved for Disaster Housing Assistance grants, totaling $921,660 - for repairing disaster-damaged, uninsured homes to a safe, sanitary and functional condition and for temporary disaster rental assistance (see county-by-county breakdown attached)
- 155 applications have been approved for Other Needs Assistance grants, totaling $321,898 - for medical, dental, funeral, personal property, transportation and other eligible expenses
- 510 applications for U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest disaster loans have been issued - for homeowners, renters and businesses of any size
Call to Apply. Those who suffered damages or loss from the flooding and severe storms that occurred between September 14 and 27 are urged to apply for assistance by calling the FEMA toll-free application number, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Those with a speech or hearing impairment can call TTY 1-800-462-7585. Both lines are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, until further notice. With the heavy volume of calls from all the disaster activity, the best time to call is after 6 p.m.
Apply online. In addition to registering by phone, residents of the disaster area may now apply online for assistance as well as find valuable recovery information at www.fema.gov. Individuals and families affected by disasters can apply online by logging on to their Internet provider, visiting a local library that provides Internet access or reaching out to family members with access to help them complete the application.
Individuals should be prepared to give their contact information and social security number, as well as provide insurance and financial information when they log on or call to register for assistance. Those who encounter difficulties while registering online can call the FEMA Technical Helpdesk toll-free at 1-800-745-0243, 24 hours a day. This number is for technical questions only; applicants with questions about FEMA assistance, or with changes to the information submitted, can call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) to reach the agency's disaster assistance helpline.
Additional Assistance Available at Disaster Recovery Centers for business owners and residents. After calling to apply, residents and business owners can visit a Disaster Recovery Center to get disaster assistance information, receive help in completing their SBA loan applications or talk with mitigation specialists and receive information on low-cost ways to reduce future disaster damages. Even people who were not affected by the recent flooding and storms can visit the centers to receive mitigation information to reduce future damage. Flood Insurance Information is also available at the Disaster Recovery Centers. Those with flood insurance questions may visit a mitigation specialist at a center to get more information.
Disaster Recovery Center locations and hours:
- Albert Lea: Health Reach, 1705 S.E. Broadway Ave.
- Austin: St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 2100 16th St. SW
Open Mon. - Fri., 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., until further notice
One Sunday only, Oct. 17, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Short-term centers operating for three days:
- Blue Earth: Ag Center, 415 S. Grove St.
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Oct. 15 - 17 - Blooming Prairie: Blooming Prairie City Center, 138 Hwy Ave. S.
Tues. - Thurs., Oct. 19 - 21, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
County Breakdown of Disaster Assistance Grants
| County | Applications Received | Housing Assistance | Other Needs Assistance | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grants Approved | Amount Approved | Grants Approved | Amount Approved | ||
| Dodge | 24 | 9 | $23,056 | 4 | $1,300 |
| Faribault | 101 | 22 | $63,211 | 15 | $26,279 |
| Freeborn | 210 | 115 | $301,521 | 53 | $114,276 |
| Mower | 300 | 156 | $435,482 | 69 | $159,700 |
| Steele | 41 | 26 | $98,389 | 14 | $20,340 |
On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Last Modified: Friday, 15-Oct-2004 17:10:19