FLOODS of 2008


Other key sites to visit for flood recovery updates: Iowa DNR Iowa Department of Public Health Iowa State Extension	______________________________________________________________________ USDA Rural Development Funds Available for Disaster Relief Efforts USDA resources include assistance for rural housing, community facilities, and businesses. Disaster Assistance in Iowa Exceeds $206 Million, Counties Added More than $206 million in state and federal assistance has been approved for individuals, businesses and communities in Iowa, according to recovery officials. Montgomery County has been added to the list of counties eligible for Individual Assistance. Appanoose, Lucas and Monroe counties have been designated to receive Public Assistance. As of July 16, fifty-one days after the disaster declaration, Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division (HSEMD) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have announced that 80 Iowa counties are now included in the May 27 major federal disaster declaration. The May 25 Parkersburg tornado prompted the declaration with on-going severe storms, tornadoes and flooding bringing damage to more designated counties. A total of 31,723 households have registered in the 63 counties eligible for Individual Assistance. FEMA has approved 17,432 households for $93.3 million in housing grants. The deadline for victims to register for assistance has been extended to September 27. This assistance may be used for temporary disaster housing and for the repair of owner-occupied disaster-damaged homes, returning them to livable condition. About 28,000 homes have been inspected by FEMA since the disaster was declared. In addition, $10.7 million has been approved for Other Needs Assistance (ONA) programs for serious, necessary disaster-related needs and expenses not covered by insurance or other assistance programs. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved 1,435 disaster loans for homes totaling more than $81.6 million and 138 disaster loans for business totaling about $13.3 million. SBA officials encourage anyone who has received a loan application after registering with FEMA to turn it in as soon as possible in order to be eligible for some forms of further assistance. SBA provides low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, private non-profit organizations and businesses of all sizes for property losses not fully covered by insurance. In addition, small businesses may receive loans to help provide working capital funds to recover from the disaster’s economic impact. To date, FEMA has received 816 requests for Public Assistance (PA) grants from local governments in the 80 counties approved for PA. Funds have been obligated for 70 projects totaling $7.3 million. FEMA will fund no less than 75 percent of the cost of debris removal and repair of damaged public facilities like schools, water treatment plants, utility systems, parks, bridges and roads. Under the PA program, FEMA will fund 90 percent of the cost of emergency response efforts taken to protect lives or property. As of July 16, 14 Disaster Recovery Centers were open to distribute information about state, federal and non-profit organization assistance programs to those affected by the disaster. Sixty-eight centers have been opened in Iowa and have had more than 28,000 visits in designated counties. Individuals may register for assistance online at www.fema.gov anytime or by calling toll-free 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585 for those with hearing or speech impairments. Hours for phone registration are from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week until further notice. Applicants may also call those numbers to check on the status of their applications or to update them. They should call to report any additional damage. 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. 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 non-profit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts, and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover uninsured and uncompensated losses and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For information about SBA programs, applicants may call 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339). Temporary housing assistance from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) does not require that an applicant file for an SBA loan. However, an applicant must complete an SBA loan application to be eligible for additional assistance under the part of the Other Needs Assistance (ONA) program that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses. There are other ONA grants such as public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses that do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan to be eligible. FEMA will process applications for housing assistance regardless of whether the applicant has applied for an SBA loan and eligibility determinations for applicants requesting FEMA’s temporary housing assistance will not be held up because the applicant has or has not filled out an SBA application. Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call 800-462-7585. Editors: More information about the Iowa disaster is available online at www.fema.gov or www.Iowahomelandsecurity.org
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Other key sites to visit for
flood recovery updates:

Iowa DNR

Iowa Department of Public Health

Iowa State Extension

______________________________________________________________________

USDA Rural Development Funds Available for Disaster Relief Efforts
USDA resources include assistance for rural housing, community facilities, and businesses.

Disaster Assistance in Iowa Exceeds $206 Million, Counties Added

More than $206 million in state and federal assistance has been approved for individuals, businesses and communities in Iowa, according to recovery officials.

Montgomery County has been added to the list of counties eligible for Individual Assistance. Appanoose, Lucas and Monroe counties have been designated to receive Public Assistance.

As of July 16, fifty-one days after the disaster declaration, Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division (HSEMD) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have announced that 80 Iowa counties are now included in the May 27 major federal disaster declaration. The May 25 Parkersburg tornado prompted the declaration with on-going severe storms, tornadoes and flooding bringing damage to more designated counties.

A total of 31,723 households have registered in the 63 counties eligible for Individual Assistance. FEMA has approved 17,432 households for $93.3 million in housing grants. The deadline for victims to register for assistance has been extended to September 27.

This assistance may be used for temporary disaster housing and for the repair of owner-occupied disaster-damaged homes, returning them to livable condition. About 28,000 homes have been inspected by FEMA since the disaster was declared.

In addition, $10.7 million has been approved for Other Needs Assistance (ONA) programs for serious, necessary disaster-related needs and expenses not covered by insurance or other assistance programs.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved 1,435 disaster loans for homes totaling more than $81.6 million and 138 disaster loans for business totaling about $13.3 million. SBA officials encourage anyone who has received a loan application after registering with FEMA to turn it in as soon as possible in order to be eligible for some forms of further assistance.

SBA provides low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, private non-profit organizations and businesses of all sizes for property losses not fully covered by insurance. In addition, small businesses may receive loans to help provide working capital funds to recover from the disaster’s economic impact.

To date, FEMA has received 816 requests for Public Assistance (PA) grants from local governments in the 80 counties approved for PA. Funds have been obligated for 70 projects totaling $7.3 million.

FEMA will fund no less than 75 percent of the cost of debris removal and repair of damaged public facilities like schools, water treatment plants, utility systems, parks, bridges and roads. Under the PA program, FEMA will fund 90 percent of the cost of emergency response efforts taken to protect lives or property.

As of July 16, 14 Disaster Recovery Centers were open to distribute information about state, federal and non-profit organization assistance programs to those affected by the disaster. Sixty-eight centers have been opened in Iowa and have had more than 28,000 visits in designated counties.

Individuals may register for assistance online at www.fema.gov anytime or by calling toll-free
1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585 for those with hearing or speech impairments.
Hours for phone registration are from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week until further notice. Applicants may also call those numbers to check on the status of their applications or to update them. They should call to report any additional damage.

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.

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 non-profit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts, and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover uninsured and uncompensated losses and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For information about SBA programs, applicants may call 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339).

Temporary housing assistance from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) does not require that an applicant file for an SBA loan. However, an applicant must complete an SBA loan application to be eligible for additional assistance under the part of the Other Needs Assistance (ONA) program that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses. There are other ONA grants such as public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses that do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan to be eligible. FEMA will process applications for housing assistance regardless of whether the applicant has applied for an SBA loan and
eligibility determinations for applicants requesting FEMA’s temporary housing assistance will not be held up because the applicant has or has not filled out an SBA application.

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call 800-462-7585.

Editors: More information about the Iowa disaster is available online at www.fema.gov or www.Iowahomelandsecurity.org