INDIANAPOLIS — More than $1.5 million in federal funding has been approved to homeowners, renters and business owners since the president issued a major disaster declaration for Indiana.

Individual Assistance was made available March 9 to augment state and local recovery efforts after severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes caused extensive damage Feb. 29 to March 3 in Clark, Jefferson, Ripley, Scott, Warrick and Washington counties, according to a press release from the Federal Emergency Management Agency

More than $1 million has been approved to fund expenses not covered by insurance or other programs, according to FEMA. Such expenses include temporary rental assistance, repair and replacement of essential household items and disaster-related medical, dental or funeral costs. FEMA reports 1,274 registrations have been received. Field inspectors are completing home inspections within 24 hours of registration, and 491 inspections have been completed.

The U.S. Small Business Administration reports $551,200 in low interest disaster loans have been approved to qualifying homeowners, renters, businesses and nonprofits.



Sellersburg Disaster Recovery Center

A Disaster Recovery Center at Ivy Tech College in Sellersburg will remain open as long as storm-impacted individuals continue to utilize its services. More than 550 Hoosiers have visited the center, where FEMA and SBA specialists assist with applications and answer questions. The center, which was opened through a FEMA-state partnership March 13, will continue operating Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., until further notice.

 

FEMA Mitigation community outreach events scheduled

FEMA specialists spoke with some 250 Hoosiers during community outreach events in building supply stores this week. Specialists are on hand to explain simple steps people can take at home to reduce damage during future storms.

Specialists are on hand through March 31 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and April 1 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Lowe’s, 1350 Veterans Parkway, Clarksville.

Specialists will be on hand April 3-7 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Home Depot, 2239 State St., New Albany; and PC Lumber & Hardware, 150 Hunter Station Road, Sellersburg



Public Assistance for infrastructure recovery

On March 22, the president declared Clark, Jefferson, Ripley, Scott and Washington counties eligible for Public Assistance, which means that state and local governments and certain nonprofit organizations in the designated counties are eligible to apply for federal assistance to pay 75 percent of the approved cost of debris removal, emergency services related to the disaster and repairing or replacing damaged public facilities, such as roads, buildings and utilities. The remainder is the responsibility of state and local government and, in some cases, nonprofit organizations.

Public Assistance funding also covers partial or complete repair of schools and other critical functions such as public water tanks or sewer systems. Projects will be approved only if they are necessary as a direct result of storm damage during the designated timeframe.

The Indiana Department of Homeland Security briefed Public Assistance applicants this week. Applicants logged onto an online briefing webinar Wednesday. State representatives met face to face with applicants during a briefing in Sellersburg Friday.



Register with FEMA

The first step for homeowners, renters and business owners to obtain federal disaster assistance is to register with FEMA. One easy way to apply is to call the telephone registration line, 800-621-FEMA (3362). For speech-or hearing-impaired applicants, the TTY number is 800-462-7585 and Video Relay Service may be accessed at 800-621-3362. Those lines are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. FEMA will issue a nine-digit registration number to verify completion of each application. Registration is also possible in the following ways: Online at www.fema.gov or www.DisasterAssistance.gov; and by smart phone or tablet at m.fema.gov.

May 8 is the last day to register for assistance.