FEMA: More than $9 million approved in disaster assistance grants

FEMA News Desk:

262-780-3271

NEW BERLIN, Wis. – Nearly 11,700 Wisconsin residents have applied for assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and more than $9 million has been approved in grants since President Obama declared a federal disaster in Grant and Milwaukee counties Sept. 18.

Residents in the two declared counties may be eligible for federal disaster help as they recover from severe storms, tornadoes and flooding from July 20 through July 24.

Filing damage reports with local and county officials or voluntary agencies will not start the federal disaster assistance process. You must receive a FEMA registration number to verify that you have registered.

Anyone who had damages in the July 20-24 storms in Grant or Milwaukee County may apply online at http://www.disasterassistance.gov or by phone at 1-800-621-FEMA/3362 or TTY 1-800-462-7585. The toll-free numbers are available seven days a week, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. CDT until further notice. Help in other languages is available.

The following are key disaster assistance statistics from the Sept. 18 presidential disaster declaration to the close of business Sept. 23:

Total number of registrations: More than 11,600

Total amount approved: More than $9 million

Number of inspectors in the field: More than 135

Number of inspections completed: Nearly 4,500

Average turnaround time for inspections: Two days

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.