People in nine Iowa counties hit hardest by flooding from the Missouri and Mississippi rivers have one more week to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to get help recovering from this spring’s flooding.
Registering with FEMA helps the agency determine if people are eligible for grants to help repair their flood-damaged home or pay for temporary housing.
In western and eastern Iowa, Fremont, Harrison, Louisa, Mills, Monona, Pottawattamie, Scott, Shelby and Woodbury counties have been eligible for this because of major to historic flooding from the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. People who had flood-damage between March 12 and June 15 are elligible for assistance.
More than 2,400 Iowa households and families have registered with FEMA so far, according to the agency.
“We are receiving more registrations that are kind of trickling in rather than busting down our doors right now,” said Deanna Frazier, a spokeswoman for FEMA.
But the agency believes there are many out there that haven’t requested help.
“They want to make sure there is enough funding to go around to other survivors more highly impacted than they were,” Frazier said. “We want to make sure everyone knows the disaster relief fund has more than enough funding for every survivor that needs assistance."
FEMA has so far approved more than $13 million for people in Iowa.
Once a homeowner registers with FEMA, the agency works to get an inspector to their home to survey the damage.
Ways people can register with FEMA:
- Going online to www.disasterassistance.gov/
- Calling FEMA's helpline: 800-621-3362.
- Downloading FEMA's smartphone disaster app at www.fema.gov/mobile-app
The U.S. Small Business Administration also offers low-interest loans to homeowners.
The deadline to register with FEMA and apply to the SBA is July 1.
