Wash. Disaster Aid Tops $72.5 Million

More than $72.5 million in disaster assistance has now been approved to help Washingtonians recover from the December 2007 storms, according to officials with Washington Emergency Management Division (WA-EMD), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Individuals Assistance programs (IA) are to help individuals and families affected by the storms and flooding. Qualifying individuals may receive funds to cover disaster-related costs such as home repairs, temporary housing and personal property losses. Ten counties were designated for IA. SBA low-interest disaster loans are provided for individuals and businesses in counties designated for IA who qualify. SBA loans help 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. Public Assistance programs (PA) are for infrastructure to help State and local governments, federally recognized tribes, and non-profit agencies providing essential services. These entities can be reimbursed for disaster-related costs for emergency response, debris removal and repair to roads, utilities, public buildings, parks and facilities. Twelve counties were designated for PA. Under the presidential disaster declaration, FEMA's PA program pays 75 percent of eligible costs, while the state of Washington and the local applicants share the remaining 25 percent. So far, 1,320 Project Worksheets have been received. Of these, 909 have been obligated, or 60.2% of the total.

Indiana Residents Have 2 Weeks Left to Apply for Aid

Indiana residents and business owners in the 21 counties included in the presidential disaster declaration have until March 31 to register for disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Eligible residents and business owners who sustained damage from storms and flooding that began during the period Jan. 7 and continuing, should register for disaster assistance immediately, said officials from FEMA and the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS). Loan applications to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for disaster-related losses to real and personal property also must be submitted by March 31.

Federal and state disaster recovery officials urge eligible residents who have not done so to apply as soon as possible by calling the toll-free registration number at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), or, for the speech or hearing impaired, TTY 1-800-462-7585. Individuals also may register for disaster assistance at the FEMA website www.fema.gov.

Applicants who have questions about the disaster assistance programs or questions about the status of their previously filed applications should continue to use FEMA's toll-free Helpline at 1-800-621-3362.

To date, more than 2,400 Indiana residents have applied for disaster assistance. The total disaster funds approved for individuals affected by the disaster now tops $12 million, which includes approximately $6 million in low-interest SBA disaster loans for individuals and businesses.