Earl thanks a member of the NDNG for his work on the levees in Burlington
Flood Resource Guide
As this winter’s record storms have given way to record spring floods, people across North Dakota have come together to fight back the rising waters threatening their communities. While parts of our state are still facing the threat of floods, others are now turning their focus to clean up and recovery. I have prepared a list of helpful resources that are available to aid in flood recovery efforts. If you have questions that are not addressed here, please feel free to contact one of my offices.
Earl
IRS Tax Extension
At the request of the North Dakota Congressional delegation, the IRS has extended the tax filing deadline for individuals in North Dakota who have been affected by flooding. This applies to the following counties and Indian Reservations: Adams, Barnes, Benson, Billings, Burleigh, Cass, Cavalier, Dickey, Dunn, Emmons, Foster, Grand Forks, Grant, Hettinger, Kidder, LaMoure, Logan, McIntosh, McKenzie, McLean, Mercer, Morton, Nelson, Oliver, Pembina, Ramsey, Ransom, Richland, Sargent, Sioux, Stark, Stutsman, Walsh, and Williams counties and Standing Rock and Spirit Lake Indian reservations.
Those individuals now have until May 15, 2009 to file their 2008 individual tax returns without incurring late fees and interest. Affected taxpayers should mark paper tax returns with the words "severe storms, flooding." Taxpayers who e-file their returns can use their software's "disaster" feature, if available.
The IRS has also extended the tax filing deadline until May 15, 2009 for businesses located in the counties declared a federal disaster area qualifying for Individual Assistance. The postponement applies to return filing, tax payment and certain other time-sensitive acts otherwise due between March 13, 2009, and May 15, 2009. In addition, the IRS will waive the failure to deposit penalties for employment and excise deposits due on or after March 13, 2009, and on or before March 30, 2009, as long as the deposits were made by March 30, 2009.
Individual Assistance
North Dakotans living in the 26 counties declared a federal disaster area for individual assistance who sustained damage or property losses should apply for disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Disaster assistance may include grants to help pay for temporary housing, essential home repairs or other serious disaster-related expenses, such as medical, dental, funeral or burial expenses, not covered by insurance or other sources. Also, homeowners, renters, and business owners may be eligible for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to help them recover from losses not covered by insurance, grants or other sources.
Following are the three basic steps to getting disaster assistance from FEMA.
Step One: Registration
Register online at www.Disaster Assistance.gov or by phone at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585. Specialists are available from 6 a.m. to midnight (CDT) to help with the registration process.
• When you call FEMA you should have Social Security number, current mailing address, the address of the damaged property, a brief description of the damages and any insurance information, including the policy number and the name of insurance agent, and a phone number where you can be reached.
• If you receive a Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest loan packet, be sure to fill it out and return it. Returning the application does not obligate you to accept an SBA loan, but it is a necessary step to being considered for other forms of disaster assistance.
Step Two: Inspections
You will receive an identification number and will need that number to refer to your application. In a few days, a FEMA-contracted inspector will call to set up an appointment to inspect the damaged property. There is no charge for this service, but it is a necessary step to determine damages. As part of the inspection process, you must provide proof of ownership or occupancy:
• Homeowners may show a tax bill, deed, mortgage payment receipt or insurance policy with the property’s address. • Renters may show a lease, rent payment receipt, utility bill or other document confirming the home was their primary residence at the time of the disaster. • Homeowners and renters must also present a valid driver’s license or other photo ID.
Step Three: Receiving Assistance
FEMA will issue disaster assistance funds to eligible applicants. If you have provided banking information to FEMA, the funds will be deposited directly into your bank account. This option can often speed up the process of receiving assistance.
The following North Dakota counties were added for Individual Assistance on April 10: Adams, Barnes, Billings, Burleigh, Cass, Dickey, Emmons, Foster, Grand Forks, Griggs, Hettinger, Kidder, LaMoure, Logan, McIntosh, Mercer, Morton, Nelson, Ransom, Richland, Sargent, Steele, Stutsman, Towner, Traill and Williams.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance
Individuals in disaster-declared counties whose employment or self-employment has been lost or interrupted as a direct result of the floods are eligible for financial assistance of between $141 and $406 per week, depending on your regular income.
General Eligibility: In order to be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) the worker must meet all the following requirements:
• The worker’s unemployment must have been caused as a direct result of the disaster – for example, you work for a non-essential business that was asked to close by local or state officials • The worker must live in, work in, or travel through the disaster area • DUA claim form(s) must be filed within 30 days of the state announcement of the availability of individual assistance. People living in the original 26 disaster-declared counties must file claims by May 10, 2009, and if additional counties are added later, they must file claims within 30 days of their disaster declaration • The worker is able and available for work, unless injured as a direct result of the disaster
Conditions of Unemployment: One of the following conditions of unemployment must have occurred as a direct result of the disaster to qualify:
• No longer have a job and have a week of unemployment following the date the major disaster began • Are unable to reach the place of employment or where services in self-employment are performed • Were to have started work and do not have a job or unable to reach the job • Became the breadwinner or major support because the head of household died • Cannot work because of injury caused as a direct result of the major disaster
How to Apply: Contact Job Service North Dakota at 701-328-1630.
Public Assistance
Public Assistance is available to state and local governments, Native American tribes and certain private non-profit organizations that provide essential governmental services. Assistance may be available for the following project categories: • Debris removal • Emergency protective measures • Road systems and bridges • Water control facilities • Public buildings and contents • Public utilities • Parks, recreational, and other private non-profit organizations providing critical public services (e.g. power, water, educational and emergency facilities, etc.) can apply directly to FEMA for assistance. Other private non-profits need to first apply to the Small Business Administration. If SBA declines to ex¬tend a loan, they may reapply for FEMA assistance.
Helpful Resources
Federal Disaster Relief Clearinghouse www.disasterassistance.gov
FEMA 800-621-3362, www.fema.gov
Small Business Administration 800-659-2955, www.sba.gov
IRS Disaster Helpline 866-562-5227
USDA Food Assistance 800-755-2716
USDA Farm Service Agency 701-436-5101
National Flood Insurance Hotline 800-427-4661, www.floodsmart.gov
Red Cross ND-MN Hotline 866-438-4636, www.redcross.org
North Dakota Department of Health, www.ndhealth.gov/flood/ 701-328-1630
NDSU Extension Service 701-231-8944 (how to clean your flood-damaged home, safe handling of food, helping a child cope with disaster, and other educational issues)
North Job Service, 701-328-2372,
--------------------------------------------------------------- Information for Producers on Documenting Livestock Death Losses Under the Livestock Indemnity Program:
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a notice on 4/20/09 that provides State and County Offices with acceptable types of documentation for livestock producers to prove death losses for the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) purposes. LIP was included in the 2008 Farm Bill to provide compensation to eligible producers for livestock mortality caused by a disaster. For additional information, and to view the USDA’s notice on documenting livestock death losses under LIP, please click on the following link:
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provides a number of benefits To help workers who have lost their jobs in the recession.
COBRA Premium Reduction: Recession-related job losses are threatening health coverage for many families. To help workers maintain their health coverage while they are between jobs, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provides a 65% reduction in the premiums payable by involuntarily terminated workers and their families for health care continuation coverage under COBRA. This premium reduction will last for up to 9 months. Workers who have been involuntarily terminated during the period from September 1, 2008 through December 31, 2009 and their families are eligible. This will help 7 million people maintain their health insurance by providing a vital bridge for families when workers have been forced out of their jobs as a result of the recession.
To be eligible for the premium reduction, you must be a COBRA qualified beneficiary who meets all of the following requirements:
Is eligible for COBRA continuation coverage as a result of Federal or State law at any time duringthe period beginning September 1, 2008 and ending December 31, 2009;
Elects COBRA coverage (when first offered or during the additional election period); and
Was involuntarily terminated during the period beginning September 1, 2008 and ending December 31, 2009.
Extended Unemployment Insurance This bill provides up to 33 weeks of extended unemployment benefits for workers who have lost their jobs in the recession, and increases unemployment benefits by $25 per week.
While North Dakota has the second lowest unemployment rate in the nation at 3.5 percent, according to the most recent data available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, major employers in the state have begun to announce layoffs. These layoffs are not yet reflected in these numbers.
The Department of Labor estimates that North Dakota could receive $14.6 million in new funding if North Dakota fully enacts the unemployment insurance modernization incentives that the legislation would provide.
According to the National Employment Law Project, this means that an additional $100 per month in unemployment insurance benefits will be offered to approximately 29,000 North Dakotans who have lost their jobs in this recession.
In addition, the economic recovery plan will alleviate the tax burden for already struggling Americans collecting unemployment benefits by temporarily suspending the federal income tax on the first $2,400 of benefits per recipient in 2009.
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Congressman Pomeroy commends the heroic efforts of all those who fought back the floods threatening North Dakota this spring.
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