FEMA: Wisconsin federal disaster assistance tops $25.5 million

FEMA News Desk:

262-780-3271

NEW BERLIN, Wis. – Federal assistance for Grant and Milwaukee County residents has topped $25.5 million for the July 20-24 severe storms, tornadoes and flooding. 19,830 renters, homeowners and business owners have registered for assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) since President Obama declared a federal disaster on Sept. 18.

FEMA urges affected residents of Grant and Milwaukee Counties to 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.

Everyone who registers with FEMA receives a nine-digit application number. Keep this number handy when calling FEMA to update personal information such as a change of address, new phone number or an insurance settlement. Applicants can update their information by calling 1-800-621-FEMA/3362 or TTY 1-800-462-7585. As well as calling, or going online, applicants may also visit a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) if they have questions about the status of their application.

The following includes FEMA disaster assistance statistics for Grant and Milwaukee Counties as of the close of business Sept. 30:

$25,537,271 approved for individual assistance.

19,830 total number of registrations.

10,843 U.S. Small Business Administration disaster assistance loan applications issued.

1,757 people have visited a DRC.

Inspections:
* 16,280 completed;
* 129 inspectors in the field; and
* 2 day average turnaround time for inspections:

Community Relations specialists have provided Spanish and English disaster assistance information to:
* 1,663 homes;
* 207 businesses;
* 27 houses of worship reaching nearly 8,900 members; and
* 28 agencies.

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.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers low-interest disaster loans to renters, homeowners and businesses of all sizes.

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.