FEMA: FEMA and SBA deadline approaching: More than $44 million approved

FEMA News Desk:

262-780-3271

NEW BERLIN, Wis.-Almost $45 million in federal grants have been distributed to Grant and Milwaukee County residents since President Obama’s disaster declaration on Sept. 18, according to Wisconsin Emergency Management (WEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Since the presidential disaster declaration, more than 31,000 residents of Grant and Milwaukee counties have applied for federal disaster aid, and more than 29,000 of their homes already have been inspected.

FEMA inspections determine the extent of damage caused by the July 20-24 severe storms, tornadoes and flooding and clear the path for qualified applicants to receive federal disaster assistance. To date, disaster aid approved for recovery from the July storms has reached $49.4 million. The following are the most recent Individual Assistance statistics for Grant and Milwaukee counties. By the close of business Nov. 4, 2010:

* $44,437,141 in Individual Assistance had been approved;

* 31,059 people in the two declared counties had applied for disaster assistance; and

* 29,448 inspections had been completed.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has issued 15,424 low-interest disaster loan applications to impacted homeowners, renters and businesses and approved more than $5 million.

People in the affected counties can still register with FEMA for individual assistance. The deadline to register is Nov. 17. Register online at http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA/3362 or TTY 1-800-462-7585. Phone lines are open seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. CDT, until further notice. Multilingual operators are available.

Applicants who received an SBA low-interest disaster loan application must return it by Nov. 17. To apply online using SBA’s Electronic Loan Application, visit https://DisasterLoan.SBA.gov/ela. For information and assistance, or help completing the loan application, contact the SBA Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955. Applicants also may visit the SBA Web site at http://www.SBA.gov/Services/DisasterAssistance, or e-mail SBA at DisasterCustomerService@SBA.gov.

FEMA’s Individual Assistance Program helps with expenses not covered by insurance or other programs, including temporary rental assistance, damage repairs and replacement of essential household items and disaster-related medical, dental or funeral costs.

SBA offers low-interest disaster loans to renters, homeowners and businesses of all sizes. The SBA program serves as the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property.

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.