FEMA Disaster Assistance is Available for Illinois Tornado Survivors but Deadline to Register Less Than a Week Away

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Nov. 17 tornado survivors have less than a week to register for federal disaster assistance.

Survivors must register by Monday, Jan. 27, to be considered for FEMA grants and SBA low-interest disaster loans to help cover eligible disaster-related expenses, including:

• Temporary housing for homeowners and renters;
• Home repairs and rebuilding;
• Repair or replacement of lost personal property, including vehicles; and
• Other serious disaster-related expenses not met by insurance or other assistance programs.

No FEMA applications can be accepted after the deadline, but FEMA will continue to approve disaster assistance for eligible survivors who applied. To date, more than $14.8 million in federal disaster assistance has been approved FEMA and SBA for homeowners, renters and businesses in Illinois.

Registration is quick and easy:

• Register by calling the FEMA helpline: 800-621-FEMA (3362). Survivors who use TTY may call 800-462-7585;
• Register online at DisasterAssistance.gov; or
• Register with a tablet or smartphone by downloading the FEMA app or going to m.FEMA.gov.

SBA low-interest disaster loans are a major source of federal rebuilding funds.

Homeowners, renters and businesses can apply online through SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Applicants can get more information by calling SBA’s hotline at 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339 or by visiting sba.gov.

Survivors with insurance should register and keep FEMA updated.

Applicants who have insurance should register with FEMA and submit their insurance settlement documentation to FEMA once they receive it. Anyone with questions about how to obtain this documentation should contact their insurance agent or call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362.  

If applicants think their insurance company may be delaying a settlement, they should contact the Illinois Department of Insurance with questions or information about filing a complaint against the insurance carrier. The toll free number is 866-445-5364. For more information, consumers may also visit the department’s website at Insurance.Illinois.gov. 

The FEMA helpline isn’t just for registration.

After the Jan. 27 registration deadline, the FEMA helpline 800-621-FEMA (3362) remains available to assist survivors from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time, seven days a week.

Applicants should call FEMA if they have questions relating to any of the following issues:

• The status of an application for FEMA assistance;
• Appealing a decision by FEMA;
• Submitting insurance settlement information;
• Updating contact information;
• Continuing need for rental assistance;
• Available disaster assistance programs; and
• Discovery of additional property damage.                                                                                             

For the latest information on Illinois’ recovery from the Nov. 17 storms, visit FEMA.gov/Disaster/4157. Follow FEMA online at twitter.com/femaregion5, facebook.com/fema and youtube.com/fema. The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call 800-462-7585.

SBA is the federal government’s primary source of funding for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. 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. For information about SBA programs, applicants may call 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339).

NEWS DESK: 217-522-2080

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