Federal assistance available to those impacted by May severe weather

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Residents in Butler, Carter, Ripley and Stoddard counties who were impacted by severe weather May 19-27 will now have access to federal assistance.

A major disaster declaration was approved Tuesday for counties impacted in southern Missouri by severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding.

“This is important news for the Missouri families and communities hit hard by severe weather in late May,” Gov. Mike Parson said. “The State Emergency Management Agency will be working closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to move the federal assistance process forward, which will provide millions of dollars in much needed recovery support for individuals, families, and local jurisdictions.”

A request made June 12 by the governor for federal assistance included more than $20 million in qualifying expenses that had already been identified.

The declaration allows for individual assistance, which includes grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Federal funding is also available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by severe weather.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

Individuals who sustained damage or losses due to severe weather between May 19 and 27 may now apply for FEMA disaster assistance online at www.disasterassistance.gov or by calling FEMA’s toll-free application line at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Affected individuals are encouraged to document losses, photograph damage, and retain receipts.

The deadline for most Individual Assistance programs is 60 days following the President’s major disaster declaration. Disaster assistance to eligible individuals generally falls into the following categories:

Housing Assistance may be available for up to 18 months for displaced persons whose residences were heavily damaged or destroyed. Funding also can be provided for housing repairs and replacement of damaged items to make homes habitable.

Disaster Grants are available to help meet other serious disaster related needs and necessary expenses not covered by insurance and other aid programs. These may include replacement of personal property, and transportation, medical, dental, and funeral expenses.

Low-Interest Disaster Loans are available after a disaster for homeowners and renters from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to cover uninsured property losses. Loans may be available for repair or replacement of homes, automobiles, clothing, or other damaged personal property. SBA loans are also available to businesses for property loss and economic injury. Businesses can visit sba.gov or call 1-800-569-2955.

Other Disaster Aid Programs include crisis counseling, disaster-related unemployment assistance, legal aid and assistance with income tax, Social Security, and veterans’ benefits.

The disaster declaration also makes the FEMA Public Assistance program available to local governments and qualifying nonprofits for the repair of damaged roads, bridges, and other public infrastructure as well as reimbursement of emergency response costs.