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Federal Disaster Aid to Illinois Residents Tops $131.1 Million

AURORA, Ill. – Federal assistance in Illinois has reached more than $134.1 million, distributed among more than 54,540 individuals and households, since a major disaster was declared for storms and flooding that occurred April 16 through May 5.

Storm damage after May 5 is not included in the presidential disaster declaration for Illinois.

The latest summary of federal assistance includes:

More than $134.1 million in FEMA grants approved for individuals and households;
Of that amount, more than $115 million has been approved for housing assistance, including temporary rental assistance and home repair costs;
More than $18 million has been approved to cover other essential disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses and damaged personal possessions;
More than 81,500 home inspections have been completed to confirm disaster damage;
More than $33.2 million in loans to homeowners, renters or business owners has been approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

To address unmet needs, LaSalle County has organized a Long-Term Recovery Committee (LTRC) with the help of FEMA’s Voluntary Agency Liaison division. LaSalle County experienced some of the most severe damage from the storms, especially in Marseilles where a large portion of the town’s residents were affected, with over 200 having to vacate their homes.

In the next several weeks, the Lutheran Disaster Response will be providing guidance to the LTRC to canvass affected areas to determine who may have unmet needs for housing and rental assistance, construction and repair help, food, clothing, spiritual and emotional guidance or financial support.

In Illinois, 82 out of its 102 counties and 770 communities have adopted and enforce floodplain ordinances, making residents eligible to purchase flood insurance. Flooding accounts for more than 90 percent of declared disasters in Illinois. The state has one of the largest inland systems of rivers, lakes and streams in the United States with nearly 15 percent of its total land area flood prone.

Two additional counties have been added to the major disaster declaration for individual assistance. Putnam and Warren county survivors along with survivors of the 33 counties already declared for individual assistance now have until July 24 to register for federal disaster assistance.

Individuals can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. People who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS) can call 800-621-3362. For more information, visit the Illinois Disaster website www.fema.gov/disaster/4116.

Multilingual phone operators are available on the FEMA helpline. Choose Option 2 for Spanish and Option 3 for other languages.

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.

Follow FEMA online at twitter.com/femaregion5, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at twitter.com/craigatfema. The social media links provided are for reference only.

FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

Media Contact: 571-408-1835

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Federal Disaster Aid to Illinois Residents Tops $131.1 Million

Federal Disaster Aid to Illinois Residents Tops $126.4 Million

AURORA, Ill. – Federal assistance in Illinois has reached more than $126.4 million, distributed among more than 51,100 individuals and households, since a major disaster was declared for storms and flooding that occurred April 16 through May 5.

Storm damage after May 5 is not included in the presidential disaster declaration for Illinois.

The latest summary of federal assistance includes:

More than $126.4 million in FEMA grants approved for individuals and households;
Of that amount, more than $109 million has been approved for housing assistance, including temporary rental assistance and home repair costs;
More than $17 million has been approved to cover other essential disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses and damaged personal possessions;
More than 74,600 home inspections have been completed to confirm disaster damage; and
More than $27.4 million in loans to homeowners, renters or business owners has been approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration;.

The registration deadline has been extended to July 24. The 15-day extension was requested by the State of Illinois.

Two additional counties have been added to the major disaster declaration for individual assistance. Putnam and Warren county survivors also have until July 24 to register for federal disaster assistance. The two counties were previously approved for public assistance, which provides local governments and certain eligible nonprofits with funding for debris removal, emergency protective measures and infrastructure repairs such as building roads and bridges.

Multilingual phone operators are available on the FEMA helpline. Choose Option 2 for Spanish and Option 3 for other languages.

Public assistance has received more than 400 requests for project funding. This assistance is on a cost-sharing basis with FEMA paying 75 percent and the remainder the responsibility of the state and local governments.

FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

Media Contact: 571-408-1835

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Federal Disaster Aid to Illinois Residents Tops $126.4 Million

FEMA Extends Registration Deadline; Two Additional Illinois Counties Added to Disaster Declaration

AURORA, Ill. – FEMA has extended the registration deadline by 15 days to July 24 for federal assistance from the storms and flooding of April 16 to May 5. In addition, Illinois residents in two additional counties are now eligible to register for disaster assistance.

FEMA approved the State of Illinois request to add Putnam and Warren counties to the disaster declaration for individual assistance issued May 10 and to extend the registration deadline.

The two counties were previously among 40 counties declared for public assistance, which provides local governments and certain eligible nonprofits with funding for debris removal, emergency protective measures and infrastructure repairs such as building roads and bridges. Assistance is on a cost-sharing basis with FEMA paying 75 percent and the remainder the responsibility of the state and local governments.

Residents of 35 counties are now covered in the Illinois disaster declaration for severe storms and flooding. Counties now designated for individual assistance are: Brown, Bureau, Calhoun, Clark, Cook, Crawford, DeKalb, Douglas, DuPage, Fulton, Grundy, Henderson, Henry, Kane, Kendall, Knox, Lake, LaSalle, Livingston, Marshall, Mason, McDonough, McHenry, Peoria, Pike, Putnam, Rock Island, Schuyler, Stark, Tazewell, Warren, Whiteside, Will, Winnebago, and Woodford.

Individual Assistance for homeowners and renters can include grants to help pay for temporary rental assistance and other serious disaster-related expenses not met by insurance or other assistance programs. Assistance for homeowners also can include grants for home repair. Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are available to cover residential and business losses not fully compensated by insurance.

The FEMA disaster declaration does not include any damage incurred after May 5.

Individuals affected by the storms and flooding can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. People who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS) can call 800-621-3362. For more information, visit the Illinois Disaster website www.fema.gov/disaster/4116.

Multilingual phone operators are available on the FEMA helpline. Choose Option 2 for Spanish and Option 3 for other languages.

SBA low-interest disaster loans may be available for homeowners, renters, businesses and private non-profit organizations of all sizes to repair or replace real estate, contents and/or personal property damaged in the severe storms and flooding. Information and assistance from SBA is available at 1-800-659-2955, (TTY) 1-800-877-8339 or online at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.

Media Contact: 571-408-1835

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FEMA Extends Registration Deadline; Two Additional Illinois Counties Added to Disaster Declaration

New Jersey Recovery From Superstorm Sandy: By The Numbers

TRENTON, N.J. — Disaster assistance to New Jersey survivors of Hurricane Sandy by the numbers as of July 1:

Total Federal Assistance: $6.8 billion

$5 billion in total National Flood Insurance Program payments made on claims to date
$402.2 million in FEMA grants approved for individuals and households
- $350.1 million for housing assistance
- $56.3 million for other needs

$798.5 million in SBA disaster loans approved for homeowners, renters and businesses
$624.7millionapproved in FEMA Public Assistance grants to communities and some nonprofit organizations that serve the public
261,780 people contacted FEMA for help or information
126,751 housing inspections completed

Individuals can check on the status of their applications at DisasterAssistance.gov, via smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov, or by calling 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services can call 800-621-3362.

Survivors can ask questions about their SBA disaster home or business loan applications by calling 800-659-2955 or TTY 800-877-8339 or emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

Survivors who have questions about their flood insurance claims and the appeals process can call 800-427-4661.

Additional resources are available online at FEMA.gov/SandyNJ and SBA.gov/Sandy.

Follow FEMA online at www.fema.gov/blog, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema.

The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

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New Jersey Recovery From Superstorm Sandy: By The Numbers

Disaster Information Available on July 4th Holiday

AURORA, Ill. – Disasters don’t take holidays off and neither does FEMA. Those affected by the April 16 to May 5 severe storms can register for assistance, have questions answered or check the status of their claims seven days a week including the Thursday, July 4 holiday through the FEMA Helpline.

Applicants can call the Helpline at 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585 anytime between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. daily. People who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS) can call 800-621-3362 during those same hours.

Multilingual phone operators are available on the FEMA helpline. Choose Option 2 for Spanish and Option 3 for other languages.

Individuals can also get status updates online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov. For more information visit the Illinois Disaster website www.fema.gov/disaster/4116.

Registration for disaster assistance closes Tuesday, July 9.

Media Contact: 571-408-1835

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Disaster Information Available on July 4th Holiday

FEMA Grant Recipients Must Keep Their Receipts

AURORA, Ill. – If you received money from FEMA to help recover from the April 16 to May 5 flooding, you must keep the receipts or bills for which the money was used for three years.

FEMA assistance must be used for eligible disaster expenses only, as identified in the approval letter from the agency. You must save documentation that demonstrates how the funds were used in meeting your disaster-related needs. Examples of proof of use include:

Receipts for items purchased for home repair.
Contractor invoices.
Proof of hotel room charges if you received housing assistance.
Rent payment receipts if you received housing assistance.
Receipts for moving and storage expenses.
Receipts for repairing or replacing personal property.

More information on FEMA programs for individuals and households can be found in the “Help After a Disaster” guide. The guide was mailed to each applicant, but also is available online at fema.gov/help-after-disaster.

Individuals can get status updates online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. People who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS) can call 800-621-3362. For more information visit the Illinois Disaster website www.fema.gov/disaster/4116.

Multilingual phone operators are available on the FEMA helpline. Choose Option 2 for Spanish and Option 3 for other languages.

Media Contact: 571-408-1835

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FEMA Grant Recipients Must Keep Their Receipts

Has a FEMA Housing Inspector Assessed Damage to Your Dwelling?

AURORA, Ill. – A FEMA-contracted housing inspector must visit your damaged dwelling before a determination can be made that you are eligible for an Individual Assistance grant to help repair damage caused by the storms of April 16 to May 5.

The first step is to register with FEMA, which must be done before the July 9 deadline. Within a few days after registration, the applicant will receive a call from an inspector assigned to check the damage. The inspector will make an appointment to visit the dwelling.

FEMA does its own inspections. It does not receive information from flood insurance adjustors, SBA, or other sources.

It you do not receive a call from a FEMA inspector within two weeks after registration, you should call the FEMA helpline to verify your registration, 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. People who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS) can call 800-621-3362.

Making a flood insurance claim does not register you with FEMA. If you do not register with FEMA within the 60-day registration period ending July 9, you will not be eligible for FEMA assistance later if your flood insurance does not fully cover your loss. However, if you are registered, you have up to a year to request FEMA assistance if insurance coverage falls short.

FEMA registration is available online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov, in addition to the telephone numbers listed above.

Multilingual phone operators are available on the FEMA helpline. Choose Option 2 for Spanish and Option 3 for other languages.

Media Contact: 571-408-1835

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Has a FEMA Housing Inspector Assessed Damage to Your Dwelling?

No Coverage for Damaged Wells and Septic Systems? Try FEMA or SBA

AURORA, Ill. – Homeowners may be eligible for disaster assistance for repairs to private wells and septic systems damaged or contaminated by the spring storms between April 16 and May 5.

The damaged well must be the sole source of water for the home to be eligible for FEMA assistance. The repairs must also not be covered by insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate benefits.

If additional repairs or replacement prove necessary after a FEMA inspector has visited, homeowners can choose to have the repairs made and get a verifiable receipt, or written estimate of repair costs including parts and labor. The receipt or estimate from a contractor needs to state that the estimate or actual cost paid is not an upgrade and that the repair was necessary to make the home habitable.

Homeowners who recently discovered damage to their well water or septic systems may call the FEMA Helpline, even if a housing inspector has already visited the home, at 1-800-621-3362 or TTY 1-800-462-7585. Users of 711 Relay or Video Relay Services should also call 1-800-621-3362.

Multilingual operators are available. Press 2 for Spanish or 3 for other languages.

Applicants also can update information online at www.disasterassistance.gov.

A confirmation inspection may be needed to verify the necessary work. FEMA will determine how much reimbursement will be made to the applicant.

Low interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) also cover repairs to septic systems and wells. Disaster survivors with insurance should not wait for an insurance settlement before applying to the SBA. If survivors do not know how much of their loss will be covered by insurance or other sources, the SBA will consider making a loan for the total loss up to its loan limits, provided the borrower agrees to use the insurance proceeds to reduce or repay their SBA loan.

It is important that anyone receiving an SBA disaster loan application complete and return it. Returning the application does not obligate you to accept an SBA loan; however, it is a necessary step to be considered for other additional forms of federal disaster assistance.

Media Contact: 571-408-1835

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No Coverage for Damaged Wells and Septic Systems? Try FEMA or SBA

Protect Against Future Storm Damage

AURORA, Ill. – As thousands of structures in Illinois are being rebuilt or repaired due to damage from this spring’s severe weather, state and federal emergency management officials are urging homeowners and business owners to take steps that will minimize damage from future storms.

“We know that disasters of this kind will occur again, but Illinoisans do not need to continue experiencing the same losses,” said W. Michael Moore, the federal official in charge of disaster recovery. “In addition to gaining a safe, more damage-resistant home or business, strengthening a structure might someday save a life. It also could enhance a property’s value and save money by reducing insurance premiums.”

Illinoisans living in flood-prone houses are encouraged to raise electrical components as well as ventilating and cooling equipment above potential flood levels. Electrical system components, including fuse and breaker boxes, meters, switches, and outlets are easily damaged by floodwater. If inundated for even a short period, an electrician or the local municipal building department should be consulted.

“There is no better time to do this than when your home is being repaired and the disaster is fresh on your mind,” added Moore.

Rebuilding to make structure more disaster resistant is called hazard mitigation.

Homeowners and business owners should discuss with their contractors the following hazard mitigation measures:

Installation of appropriate roof bracing.
Installation of storm shutters.
Bolting walls to the foundation.
Installation of masonry ties, which help to secure brick walls to the wood structure.
Elevating basement furnaces.
Replacement of a weak garage door, which can create entry for wind that can easily lift an unstrapped roof.
Elevating the entire structure above potential flood levels.

Information on how to help protect your home is available free at any of the FEMA/state Disaster Recovery Centers, or at one of the Mitigation Outreach events at home improvement stores.

Individuals and families living in one of the designated counties for Individual Assistance may be eligible for help if the damage occurred between April 16 and May 5. They should register with FEMA to begin the process.

They can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. People who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS) can call 800-621-3362. For more information visit the Illinois Disaster website www.fem a.gov/disaster/4116.

The deadline to register for FEMA disaster assistance is Tuesday, July 9.

Media Contact: 571-408-1835

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Protect Against Future Storm Damage

Completed SBA Application Speeds Up Disaster Assistance

AURORA, Ill. – Illinoisans who received a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loan application for disaster assistance are urged to complete and return it as soon as possible. Doing so will keep the door open for other types of assistance.

SBA disaster loan applications are sent to disaster survivors who may qualify for disaster aid as a result of the April 16 to May 5 severe weather.

“The disaster loan application provides the necessary information for determining the appropriate assistance for each applicant,” said W. Michael Moore, the federal official in charge of disaster recovery.

Disaster survivors with insurance should not wait for their insurance settlement before applying to SBA. If a survivor is unsure of the amount covered by insurance or other sources, the SBA will consider making a loan for the full amount of the loss, up to its loan limits.

Approval of the SBA disaster loan is contingent on the borrower’s agreement that the SBA loan will be reduced by the amount of the insurance settlement.

“We want to make sure that every disaster survivor remains eligible for help from all of the programs that are available,” added Moore. “The fastest way to accomplish that is to submit the SBA application. If SBA cannot offer a homeowner or renter a disaster loan, the agency will refer the case onward to other sources of assistance.”

Applicants are urged to read all disaster assistance documents carefully while maintaining realistic expectations of what they may receive as disaster aid.

Applicants also are encouraged to stay in touch with FEMA, to ensure FEMA has the correct current address, phone number and email address.

It is not necessary to visit a DRC to register with FEMA. Individuals can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. People who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS) can call 800-621-3362. For more information visit the Illinois Disaster website www.fem a.gov/disaster/4116.

Media Contact: 571-408-1835

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Completed SBA Application Speeds Up Disaster Assistance

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