| FEMA Extends Deadline to July 24 for Disaster Assistance from April/May Storms |
Lake County property owners who were affected by the severe storms of April 16 to May 5 should register with FEMA by Tuesday, July 24 for federal and state assistance that may be available. FEMA recently extended the deadline from July 9 to July 24.
Lake County is among 35 counties in the major disaster declaration whose residents are eligible to register for federal assistance. There are also a variety of other assistance programs available, including loans for businesses and individuals from the Small Business Administration (SBA). Registering with FEMA is the best way to access any of these programs.
So far, 1165 Lake County property owners from across the county have registered for FEMA disaster assistance. The applicants represent those who live along rivers and lakes, including the Des Plaines, Fox, and Chain O'Lakes, as well as residents who do not live near water, but who experienced basement flooding from the intense rain and storm sewer overflows.
Eligible expenses include: housing assistance, including temporary rental assistance and home repair costs, as well as other essential disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses, and damaged personal possessions.
Kent McKenzie, Lake County Emergency Management Coordinator said, "There are some common misconceptions about this process, and residents could erroneously disqualify themselves from receiving federal disaster assistance. For example, even if residents have insurance, they should still apply for federal assistance because they may be eligible for help with uninsured damages or additional living expenses."
According to FEMA, another common misconception is that SBA loans are for businesses only, but SBA disaster loans are offered to both businesses and individuals. For a list of common misconceptions, visit FEMA's website.
How to Apply
For all assistance, individuals should register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. People who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS) can call 800-621-3362. For more information, visit the Illinois Disaster website.
Get Info on Repairing and Rebuilding Damaged Property from FEMA
FEMA mitigation teams will be available Tuesday, July 9 through Sunday, July 14, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Lowe's Home Improvement in Vernon Hills (1660 N. Milwaukee Ave) to provide information about repairing and rebuilding damaged property in a stronger, safer and smarter way.
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