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WASHINGTON, D.C. – In the wake of the recent flooding across Arkansas, Congressman Marion Berry (AR-01) is urging all flood victims to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM), FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) recently announced Individual Assistance, Hazard Mitigation and Public Assistance programs under FEMA are now available for several counties in Arkansas. In addition, flood victims should contact FEMA to see if they are eligible to receive housing assistance through the Individuals and Households Program (IHP).
Residents in the counties of Baxter, Benton, Independence, Jackson, Lawrence, Logan, Madison, Marion, Randolph, Stone, and Woodruff are eligible for Individual Assistance (IA) to help individuals cope with damage from flooding.
The counties of Baxter, Boone, Carroll, Fulton, Izard, Johnson, Madison, Scott, Searcy, and Yell have been declared eligible for FEMA's Public Assistance (PA) program. This program reimburses local and state agencies and certain nonprofit agencies for the expenses and damages that occurred during the response and recovery phase of the disaster.
Additional counties may be declared eligible for Individual and Public Assistance as damage assessments are completed.
Low-interest disaster loans from SBA are available to homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes. For more information call the SBA at 1-800-659-2955 or visit the Web site at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.
The Individuals and Households Program (IHP) provides financial help or direct services to those who have necessary expenses and serious needs if they are unable to meet the needs through other means. Up to $28,800 is available in financial help, although some forms of IHP assistance have limits and flood insurance may be required. These following forms of help are available in this program: Housing Assistance (includes Temporary Housing, Repair, Replacement, and Semi-Permanent or Permanent Housing Construction) and Other Needs Assistance (includes personal property and other items).
Affected residents and business owners in the affected counties may apply for assistance immediately by calling the registration number at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Those with a speech-and hearing impairment may call a special TTY number at 1-800-462-7585. Online registration is available at www.fema.gov.
Applicants are advised to have the following information available to help speed up the application process:
- Current phone number.
- Address at the time of the disaster and the address where they are now staying.
- Social Security Number, if available.
- A general list of damages and losses they suffered.
- If insured, the insurance policy number, or the agent's and company name.
Flood victims should be wary of false representatives who call households claiming to be government recovery officials asking for social security numbers, bank account numbers or other personal information. FEMA will collect your information during your initial application and provide you an application number to use once your case has been established. Also, there is never a "processing fee" to register for FEMA assistance. The only way to apply for federal and state disaster assistance is to call the FEMA teleregistration number or register online at www.fema.gov.
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