DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. -- The deadline to apply for federal disaster assistance for damages resulting from the severe storms and flooding July 19-Aug. 7 is now only four weeks away—Nov. 17.

Here are important points to remember:

1. Disaster assistance is available to renters as well as homeowners.
2. Assistance is not limited to people living in large cities—all residents of the seven counties designated for individual assistance who suffered storm damage between July 19 and Aug. 7 may be eligible for help.
3. People must apply to FEMA to receive federal disaster assistance, even if they reported storm damage to local or county officials immediately after the storm.
4. FEMA can help persons with limited English proficiency apply for assistance through its multilingual operators at 1 800-621-FEMA (3362).
5. Furnaces in homes affected by the flooding should be checked for proper operation before the onset of cold weather; federal assistance for cleaning and testing of flood-damaged furnaces in the disaster-declared counties may be available.
6. FEMA assistance grants are not taxable as income.
7. FEMA grants do not affect Social Security benefits or eligibility for welfare programs such as food stamps.
8. FEMA may be able to reimburse people for some disaster-related expenses, such as uninsured medical or dental losses, but receipts are necessary to document those expenses.
9. While FEMA assistance is meant to get people back on their feet after a disaster, U.S. Small Business Administration disaster recovery loans may be available to fund extensive repairs needed to return a home to its original condition before the disaster and pay for proven methods of hazard mitigation to reduce future storm or flood damage.
10. The deadline to apply for assistance is Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2010; apply online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or call 1 800-621-FEMA, (TTY) 1 800-462-7585.

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.