Posted: 11/6/07
More than $53 million available for Minnesota recovery
Ten weeks after a presidential disaster declaration was issued for southeastern Minnesota, $53,148,451 in federal recovery funds has been made available to individuals in the seven designated counties, according to officials from Minnesota Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) and the U.S Department of Homeland Securityís Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Recovery officials continue to deliver aid to eligible residents and business owners in areas affected by the severe storms and flooding that swept through the area in August.
"We are pleased with the recovery work that FEMA, our state partners and now AmeriCorps teams from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) are doing," said federal coordinating officer Carlos Mitchell. "Just under two weeks remains to apply for assistance, so we urge residents who suffered damages but havenít yet registered to do so today." The deadline is Wednesday Nov. 14.
The presidential disaster declaration was issued Aug. 23. Residents in seven counties ñ Dodge, Fillmore, Houston, Olmsted, Steele, Wabasha and Winona ñ may be eligible to receive FEMA Individual Assistance funds. By the close of business on Wednesday, Oct. 31, a total of 5,142 people in the designated counties had registered for Individual Assistance, and $16,979,745 in Housing Assistance and $1,449,306 in Other Needs Assistance had already been approved.
Individual Assistance is available for homeowners and renters to help replace losses not fully covered by insurance. It can include rental payments for temporary housing for those whose homes are unlivable; grants to repair homes and replace essential household items to make damaged dwellings safe, sanitary and functional; and grants to meet serious disaster-related needs not covered by other programs.
Those affected by the severe storms and flooding can begin applying for assistance by calling
1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for the speech- or hearing-impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers operate from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. (local time) seven days a week. Individuals can also register online at www.fema.gov. The deadline to register for assistance is Wednesday, Nov. 14.
Residents, businesses and nonprofit organizations may also be eligible for low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to help them recover from the disaster, including loans to recover from property losses not fully covered by insurance or grants. In addition, small businesses may receive loans to help provide working capital to recover from the disasterís economic impact. By the close of business on Wednesday, Oct. 31, a total of 3,878 applications for home loans and 840 applications for business and economic injury disaster loans had been issued; $34,719,400 in loans had been approved.
Federal Disaster Assistance by County
The following table shows how many applications for FEMA assistance have been received and how much Housing Assistance, Other Needs Assistance and cumulative assistance has been awarded to individuals and households in each designated county. All figures are current as of the close of business on Wednesday, Oct. 31. (Figures are rounded to the nearest dollar.)
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