FEMA officials go door-to-door
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Representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) came to Ogle County last week to offer assistance to residents and business owners whose property was damaged by flooding a month ago.
Community Relations Specialists Don Nettleingham and Wendall Fransen went door-to-door in Leaf River Aug. 26 with Ogle County Emergency Management Agency Coordinator Ron McDermott, meeting with home and business owners and leaving brochures when they found no one at home.
McDermott said that Nettleingham and Fransen are in the county this week and possibly next week, making door-to-door calls in Forreston, Baileyville, Brookville, Byron, Stillman Valley, Lindenwood, Rochelle, and Kings, all places affected by the flooding caused by heavy rains July 22-24.
“I’m very impressed with what FEMA is doing for us,” McDermott said Tuesday. “We meet every day and discuss where they’re going that day and what they’re going to be doing. I’m very pleased — they’re right on top of things, and they’re here to help.”
Ogle County was one of seven counties declared a federal disaster area Aug. 19 due to the flooding. Carroll, Stephenson, JoDaviess, Winnebago, DuPage and Cook Counties were also named in the federal disaster declaration.
Nettleingham emphasized the importance of registering with FEMA.
“You must register with FEMA to get assistance,” he said.
The deadline for registering and filing applications with the Small Business Administration (SBA) is Oct. 18.
FEMA opened a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in Freeport Aug. 26 to serve flood victims in Ogle, Carroll, Stephenson, JoDaviess, and Winnebago Counties.
The DRC will be open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. for at least the rest of this week at the Stephenson County Highway Administration Building, 295 W. Lamm Rd.
Fransen said that besides FEMA personnel, representatives from the SBA are on hand at the DRC to answer questions.
McDermott urged all flood victims to visit the DRC.
“Even if they have registered by phone or online they need to come up to the DRC to get answers,” he said. “We don’t want to miss anybody.”
Flood victims can apply for help by calling FEMA’s toll free number at 800-621-FEMA (3362) or 800-462-7585 for the hearing impaired.
Registration can also be done online at www.disasterassistance.gov. Click on the Disaster Assistance tab, then Questionaire. Follow the instructions to determine which assistance is appropriate.
Residents can also apply online by clicking Apply Now.
FEMA Public Information Officer Sam ventura said Monday that as of Aug. 29, $61 million in Individual Assistance for people in the seven counties has been approved, and FEMA has received 31,912 applications from Illinoisans.
Individual Assistance can include grants for temporary housing, home repair and low cost loans, and other programs to help individuals and businesses recover.
Ventura said 22,363 housing inspections have been completed in the seven counties as of Aug. 29, and 24,256 SBA applications have been distributed.
The state of Illinois also has received $23.5 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to pay for programs that would reduce damage when future disasters happen.
