Arkansas Counties Eligible for Storm Aid

The Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that Individual Assistance (IA), Public Assistance (PA) and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Programs are available under the May 20 federal presidential declaration for the Arkansas counties affected by the severe storms, flooding and tornadoes beginning on May 2, 2008.

The disaster-affected counties of Benton, Conway, Cleburne, Crittenden, Grant, Lonoke, Mississippi, Pulaski, Saline and Van Buren are eligible for FEMA IA to help individuals and families with temporary housing assistance, homes repairs, repair or replacement of uninsured personal property, and medical, dental, and funeral expenses incurred as a result of the disaster.

"We are pleased to receive this federal disaster declaration," said State Coordinating Officer Richard Griffin, with the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM). "The residents in these counties have been looking for the help these disaster programs can provide while they recover."

The counties of Cleburne, Conway, Crittenden, Grant, Lonoke and Van Buren are eligible for FEMA's Public Assistance (PA) program. This program reimburses local and state agencies and certain nonprofit agencies for the expenses that occurred during the response phase of the disaster and helps with costs associated with repairing and rebuilding infrastructure.

"FEMA Public Assistance dollars come to the community through a partnership of cost sharing between the state, local authorities and the federal government," says FEMA's Federal Coordinating Officer Ken Riley. "FEMA picks up 75 percent of the eligible cost of putting a community back on its feet, and in Arkansas, the remainder comes from the state and the applicant splitting the remaining 25 percent."

Also, low-interest disaster loans from the U.S.Small Business Administration (SBA) are available. 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.

Affected residents and business owners in disaster-designated counties are encouraged to apply for assistance immediately by calling the registration number at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., daily. Those with a speech or hearing impairment may call a special TTY number at 1-800-462-7585. Online registration is also available at

www.fema.gov.

Applicants are advised to have the following information available to help speed up the application process:

Current phone number;
Address at the time of the disaster and the address where they are now staying;
Social Security number, if available;
A general list of damages and losses suffered; and
If insured, the insurance policy number, or the agent and company name.

Even though you may have registered with FEMA for disaster assistance for the February, March or April storms, you must register again with FEMA if you have damage from the May 2 storms. Also, registering with voluntary agencies does not register you with FEMA.