One Month After - More Than $3 Million Approved For Disaster Recovery 

Release Date: October 16, 2002
Release Number: 1433-21

» More Information on Indiana Severe Storms and Tornadoes

Indianapolis, IN -- Almost a month has passed since tornadoes caused a path of destruction through southeast and central Indiana. Since the Presidential disaster declaration of September 25, more than $3 million has been made available to assist in the recovery of thousands affected by the devastating weather events of that late September Friday afternoon.

A total of $2,733,329 in grants and low-interest loans have been approved for 524 of the 1,671 Indiana residents who have applied for disaster assistance and $318,687 has been obligated for other individual assistance programs, according to figures released today by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Indiana State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).

Those who suffered damages or loss from the tornadoes and severe storms of September 20 can still 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 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (EST) seven days a week. The deadline to apply for assistance is November 25.

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 16:

Disaster Unemployment Assistance: The deadline is nearing for people to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance. Those interested in applying must do so at your local WorkOne Center by October 28. The program, which is administered by the state and funded by FEMA, is available to help individuals affected by the disaster who are not covered by regular unemployment insurance. Those interested should first call the FEMA toll-free application line at 1-800-621-FEMA, then apply at your local WorkOne Center. WorkOne Centers can be found by calling 1-888-WORKONE or going to the Dept. of Workforce Development web site at www.workforce.IN.gov.

Crisis Counseling has been made available for children and adults affected by the tornadoes and severe storms through a grant from FEMA to the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction. The program provides for individual and family therapy and culturally appropriate supportive counseling. People who have gone through a disaster such as a tornado may experience trouble sleeping, anxiety, irritability, depression and lack of concentration. Talking about disaster experiences and sharing feelings about them will help people feel better about what has happened. Those interested in crisis counseling services should call 1-800-344-8802. The phone line is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Disaster Legal Assistance: Another form of disaster assistance available to victims of the tornadoes and severe storms is legal advice provided by the Young Lawyers Division of the American Bar Association. These disaster legal services are meant for low-income individuals who, prior to or because of the disaster, are unable to secure legal services adequate to meet their needs. To contact one of these attorneys, call 1-866-336-8276. The first available attorney will return your call as soon as possible.

Voluntary Agencies are still providing services to victims of the disaster who have immediate needs. The American Red Cross, Salvation Army and various faith-based organizations have contributed many hours to the cleanup efforts and recovery process. If you have unmet needs, you can call the American Red Cross at 317-684-1441 or your local chapter.

Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) are open for disaster victims to meet face-to-face with representatives from various assistance agencies. At the centers, people can also learn about construction techniques for rebuilding stronger to protect against the next tornado. The following two centers are open 10:00 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday and Friday; and this Saturday only, October 19, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Starting Monday, October 21, the hours are 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The DRC at Warren Township Government Center at 501 North Post Road in Indianapolis will be open Thursday, October 17, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., then changing on Friday to a SBA Workshop open 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and this Saturday only, October 19, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has established workshops to help those who would like assistance with filling out their loan packet. A FEMA representative will also be available to answer questions about disaster recovery assistance. The locations and times are:

Disaster Assistance by County

The following chart shows a county-by-county breakdown of Disaster Housing assistance, Individual and Family Grant Program assistance and U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loans. All figures are as of close of business, Wednesday, October 16.

County Applications Received Disaster Housing Program Individual and Family Grant Program SBA Disaster Loans for Individuals and Businesses
    Grants Issued Amount Approved Grants Issued Amount Approved Loans Issued Amount Approved
Bartholomew 1            
Brown 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Daviess 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Delaware 18 * * * * 4 $128,300
Grant 6 * * * * 0 4
Greene 2 0 0 0 0 0 0
Hamilton 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Hancock 16 * * 0 0 0 0
Henry 4 0 0 0 0 0 0
Jay 2 0 0 0 0 0 0
Johnson 69 * * 0 0 0 0
Knox 18 0 0 0 0 * *
Madison 45 * * 0 0 4 $205,200
Marion 1098
253 $196,981 112 $320,825 28 $618,000
Monroe 74 14 $9,961 7 $29,324 7 $241,400
Morgan 277 42 $38,649 11 $36,723 9 $539,700
Owen 3 * * 0 0 0 0
Posey 25 8 $11,252 3 $44,400 4 $265,800
Rush 4 * * 0 0 0 0
Sullivan 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

* While the number of applicants for each county is listed, the number of grants and the amounts are not listed if there are less than three approved claims for that county in order to preserve the privacy of individuals. * denotes less than three in that category.

Last Modified: Thursday, 31-Jul-2003 12:17:45