Seven Additional Counties Approved For Individual Assistance
Release Date: May 15, 2009
Release Number: 1829-070
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BISMARCK, N.D.—Disaster assistance has been expanded to include aid for homeowners, renters and businesses affected by the recent winter storms and flooding in seven more counties within North Dakota, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today.
Individual Assistance additions include the following: Benson, Cavalier, Eddy, McLean, Pembina, Rolette and Wells counties.
Federal Coordinating Office Justo "Tito" Hernandez said the assistance was approved based on a review of damage data gathered by federal and state disaster recovery officials. The counties were added for the aid under the major disaster declaration by President Obama on March 24.
“We remain committed to delivering assistance wherever it’s needed and to making sure that every qualified individual and family receives the help they need to get back on the road to recovery,” Hernandez said.
INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE
The Individual Assistance Program includes a wide range of aid, including emergency home repair, temporary disaster housing, replacement grants for serious disaster-related needs and expenses not covered by insurance or other assistance programs.
FEMA disaster assistance covers basic needs only and will not normally compensate eligible applicants for their entire losses. For those insured, the government may help pay for basic needs not covered by insurance companies.
State and federal officials encourage those affected by the disaster to apply for assistance immediately by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 800-462-7585. The registration line is open daily from 6:00 a.m. – midnight CDT, or 5:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. MDT until further notice. The call is free. Registration can also be made online anytime at www.disasterassistance.gov.
Officials remind affected residents they must register with FEMA at the above numbers or Web site to be eligible for federal assistance. Filing damage reports with state or county emergency managers or voluntary agencies will not start the federal disaster-assistance process.
When applying for help, be sure to have the following information available:
- Your current telephone number;
- Your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you now are staying;
- Your Social Security number, if available;
- A general list of damages and losses you suffered;
- If insured, the name of your company or agent and your policy number;
- Bank account coding if you wish to speed up your assistance with direct deposit.
FEMA disaster aid does not have to be paid back, while other help may come in the form of low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The FEMA representative will explain the details to you when you call.
SBA offers low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes to repair or replace damaged or destroyed property. SBA also offers low-interest working capital loans (called Economic Injury Disaster Loans) to small businesses and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes have difficulty meeting obligations as a result of the disaster. For more information on SBA disaster loans call 1-800-659-2955, or applications can be filed online at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.
LIST OF COUNTIES AND ELIGIBLE ASSISTANCE
Altogether, 41 counties and three Indian Reservations have now been approved for Individual Assistance in North Dakota, including (amendments are in Bold):
Adams, Barnes, Benson, Billings, Burleigh, Cass, Cavalier, Dickey, Eddy, Emmons, Foster, Grand Forks, Grant, Griggs, Hettinger, Kidder, LaMoure, Logan, McHenry, McIntosh, McLean, Mercer, Morton, Nelson, Oliver, Pembina, Pierce, Ramsey, Ransom, Richland, Rolette, Sargent, Stark, Steele, Stutsman, Towner, Traill, Walsh, Ward, Wells and Williams counties; the Spirit Lake, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, and Standing Rock Indian Reservations.
For more information on North Dakota disaster recovery operations, visit www.fema.gov/midwestfloods.
FEMA leads and supports the nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation, to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the nation from all hazards including natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters.
Last Modified: Monday, 18-May-2009 08:21:28