County residents eligible for assistance |
County residents eligible for assistance |
Staff Writer 24 June 2003 As a result of the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that occurred between May 2 and June 10, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has officially declared that White County residents are eligible to receive individual disaster assistance. The county and several municipalities qualified for federal public assistance when President George W. Bush declared the state a federal disaster area on June 6. Although public assistance helps state and local governments to cover the cost for repairs or the replacement of disaster damaged public facilities, it did not allocate financial help to individuals whose homes or other personal property was either damaged or destroyed as a result of the storms. According to White County 911/Emergency Services Coordinator, Eric Swanson, the declaration of individual assistance means that residents who sustained uninsured or underinsured damages to their private residence may now qualify for assistance. "We were initially approved for public assistance," Swanson said. "But that has now been broadened to include individual assistance." He said a phone number whereby individuals may inquire about receiving assistance was activated yesterday. The toll free registration number for disaster victims is 800-621-FEMA. |
