Public assistance is now available for 27 Missouri counties and 12 Arkansas counties affected by severe storms, flooding and tornadoes in April and May. Eligible homeowners and renters may be able to receive money for disaster expenses not covered by insurance to help pay for basic home repairs, temporary rental assistance and other needs such as replacing personal property. FEMA Individual Assistance is grant money that does not have to be repaid.
Across the listening area funds available so far in Missouri, are for Douglas, Howell, Ozark and Taney counties. Governor Asa Hutchinson Monday, June fifth, submitted his formal request for a federal disaster declaration to the Trump administration for 31 Arkansas counties. 12 Arkansas counties, in primarily the southern portion of the state, are listed for available public assistance on the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s website.
Locally, Governor Hutchinson requested the emergency declaration for Baxter, Boone, Fulton, Izard, Marion and Newton counties. Hutchinson says he formally requests President Trump to issue a federal disaster declaration due to more than $13 million in damage. Governor Hutchinson declared the 31 affected counties as state disaster areas earlier in May. Due to the extensive nature of the flooding and the inaccessibility of certain areas, the in-depth damage assessment for the federal declaration of emergency took longer to complete.
FEMA urges residents of the 27 Missouri counties, designated to register with the agency, to register without delay. To register go to disasterassistance.gov , get the FEMA app at FEMA app or call 800-621-3362 between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Central Standard Time.
Multilingual registration assistance is available. People who use 711 or Video Relay Services may call 800-621-3362. Those who use TTY may call 800-462-7585.
Although a FEMA Disaster Recovery Center opened Monday in West Plains, FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Michael Parker says it is not nessecary to wait for a Disaster Recovery Center to open in your area. He encourages local residents to register now so the application process and qualification determination can begin.
Filing an insurance claim does not start the FEMA registration process. Neither does registering with the American Red Cross or other agencies. To be considered for FEMA grant assistance, applicants must register directly with FEMA. Even if they have insurance coverage, FEMA might be able to assist with disaster expenses that arent covered by insurance.
After registering with FEMA, all businesses and most residents will be referred to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). SBA provides federal low-interest disaster loans to businesses of all sizes, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters impacted by this disaster. SBA disaster loans are to help pay for disaster repair or replacement costs not fully covered by insurance or other sources. In addition, for small businesses and most nonprofit organizations SBA disaster loans can help meet disaster-caused working capital needs. There is no cost or obligation to apply to SBA.
Homeowners and renters should apply to SBA, even if they are not sure if they will need or want a loan. If SBA cannot approve their application, in most cases SBA refers them to FEMAs Other Needs Assistance (ONA) program for possible additional assistance.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI