Federal Aid for Illinois Tops $8.3 Million

Federal disaster assistance totals for eligible Iroquois and Livingston County, Illinois residents topped $8.3 million late this week with just a few days left until the May 6 registration deadline.

This total includes Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants and low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for county homeowners, renters and business owners who had damage from the severe storms and flooding Jan. 7 through March 14. However, FEMA and Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) officials stress that only three days remain to apply for assistance.

To apply by the May 6 deadline, residents should call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for speech- or hearing-impaired applicants. Both lines are available today, Monday and Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (CDT). Residents also may apply online at www.fema.gov.

FEMA disaster workers will continue to process the cases of individuals who already have applied, but they will not accept any new telephone or online applications after the May 6 deadline.