Small Town News

Disaster assistance updates

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Federal disaster recovery professionals visited federally-declared disaster areas last week to alert individuals and families that help is available. Members of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's community relations section are reaching out to citizens in the 32 flood-stricken counties, including Lyon, made eligible for Individual Assistance.

Teams of specialists tell residents, business owners, non-profit agencies and faith-based organizations how to register for disaster assistance. They also work to identify people with special needs, seniors and those with disabilities.

Easily identified by FEMA photo ID badges, community relations representatives seek out any location where people affected by the disaster might be found. They provide information on how to access recovery resources such as the U.S. Small Business Administration low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes.

Registering with FEMA is the most important step to securing assistance. The sooner people register, the sooner FEMA will be able to help those eligible.

Online registration is available anytime at www.disasterassistance.gov or by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362). Hours are 7 a.m.-10 p.m.

Iowans Helping Iowans

Governor Chet Culver has rolled out the "Iowans Helping Iowans" flood assistance program meant to help families and businesses get back on their feet after this summer's floods. Up to $7.5 million will be provided for homeowner assistance, up to $7.5 million for business assistance, and up to $5 million for unmet needs totaling up to $20 million.

Unmet needs are defined as any item or ser-vice needed to overcome a disaster-related hardship, injury or adverse condition due to an eligible federally-declared disaster resulting in costs or damages related to personal property, home repair, food assistance, child care or temporary housing for which the household has not received adequate assistance from any federal, state, nonprofit or faith-based agency. Eligible families qualify for up to $2,500 which will be made available to approved applicants, either as a reimbursement for disaster-related expenditures or through a voucher.

Iowans Helping Iowans means the state will come together to use state resources to assist people who have been hit by several flooding incidents in the past four months.

Anyone affected by the natural disasters in a county that has been Presidentially Declared for Individual Assistance is eligible for the "Iowans Helping Iowans" program. This includes Lyon County.

Homeowners must first register with FEMA and be awarded some form of FEMA housing assistance to be eligible for "Iowans Helping Iowans." Businesses must first be approved for a disaster-related loan by eligible lenders, including conventional lenders, to be eligible for "Iowans Helping Iowans."

To begin the process of applying for any aid available through "Iowans Helping Iowans," applicants first must register with FEMA to be eligible.

In addition, agricultural producers who sustained losses from recent flooding and severe weather may be eligible to apply for assistance through their local Farm Service Agency office. Visit www.fsa.usda. gov/FSA and select the State Offices link at the top of the page for more information.



Copyright 2010 Lyon County Reporter, Rock Rapids, Iowa. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2011 Lyon County Reporter Rock Rapids, Iowa. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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