Tell Your Neighbor: Apply To FEMA and SBA for Disaster Assistance
Release Date: July 14, 2008
Release Number: 1771-019
» More Information on Illinois Severe Storms and Flooding
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- To date, nearly 2,000 Illinois residents have applied for disaster assistance and more than $4 million in disaster funds have been approved for eligible Illinois residents. Now, officials want to make sure no one is overlooked.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) officials are pulling out all the stops to ensure every eligible resident is aware of the availability of disaster assistance. So far the agencies have used television, radio, newspapers, Internet, flyers and door-to-door visits to get the word out. By using the Tell-Your-Neighbor campaign, they now are enlisting the public to help in disaster recovery efforts by asking citizens to notify their neighbors that they may be eligible to receive federal disaster help.
"We're hoping the public will help us spread the message," said Libby Turner, FEMA's federal coordinating officer for this disaster. "Take a few moments to call or knock on your neighbors' doors to see if they have applied with FEMA and the SBA."
"Disasters tend to bring out the best in people, so we're confident the public will help speed the recovery by talking to their neighbors and relatives," said Andrew Velazquez III, IEMA's director.
Severe storms and flooding from June 1 and continuing affected many Illinois neighborhoods. President Bush declared 18 counties federal disaster areas for Individual Assistance; this opened the door for federal funds to assist homeowners, renters and business owners in recovery.
FEMA Housing Assistance grants cover temporary rental assistance, home repairs and replacement of essential household items not covered by insurance to make damaged dwellings safe, sanitary and functional. Other Needs Assistance grants may be available to replace personal property and help meet medical, dental, funeral, transportation and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other federal, state and charitable-aid programs.
Eligible residents affected by these storms and flooding should apply as soon as possible by calling the toll-free registration number at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Speech- or hearing-impaired individuals may call TTY 1-800-462-7585. Individuals also can apply for disaster assistance at the FEMA Web site
www.fema.gov
The SBA offers low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations for losses not fully covered by insurance. The SBA may lend up to $200,000 to repair or replace homes and up to $40,000 to repair or replace personal property. Also, up to $2 million is available for businesses for their uncompensated disaster losses.
Residents and business owners can receive information about SBA disaster loans and help with the application process by calling the SBA at 1-800-659-2955 or visiting the SBA Web site at
www.sba.gov
.
Residents in the designated counties who have been unable to work or lost their jobs or businesses as a result of the severe storms and flooding are eligible to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA). This assistance is available to individuals through the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) and funded by a grant from FEMA
Officials want to encourage those residents who may be hesitant to register for disaster assistance. This is not charity; this is federal taxpayer money set aside specifically for disaster assistance. Also, the assistance one individual may receive will not take away from another applicant's federal assistance funds.
Although the assistance process may continue after the deadline, Aug. 25 will be the last day to call or go online to apply for FEMA and SBA disaster assistance.
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.
