FEMA extends application deadline for disaster victims

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By Fred Love | Thursday, September 25, 2008 7:50 PM CDT | () comments

DES MOINES — Iowans who experienced uninsured flood or storm damage and haven’t yet requested government assistance have a little more time to apply for federal help.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency on Thursday pushed back its application deadline for Iowans to Oct. 31, allowing Iowans an extra month to ask for help.

The previous deadline had been Monday.

To date, more than 38,500 Iowans have applied for government assistance, and more than $644.6 million in state and federal assistance has been approved, according to FEMA.

The agency is still receiving an average of 50 aid applications a day, FEMA spokesman Russ Edmonston said.

Edmonston said many affected homeowners delay in filling out a FEMA application because they don’t realize the extent of the damage to their property until they have a contractor or inspector look at it.

State officials had been lobbying the federal government to extend the deadline, said Kevin Teale, communications director of the Rebuild Iowa Office.

Teale urged all Iowans who suffered flood or storm damage to apply, even those who don’t know if they’re eligible for assistance.

“Even if you’re unsure if you want aid, even if you feel a bit too proud to accept aid, it’s aid that you’re entitled to,” he said.

He said FEMA applications can also help government officials assess statewide damage and get a more accurate picture of the scope of the disasters.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development this week accepted a proposed action plan from the state of Iowa for the use of $85 million in community development grants.

Department spokesman Brian Sullivan said acceptance of the plan puts the ball in the state government’s court to begin distributing that money to communities that had storm or flood damage.

The bulk of the community development money will go to housing needs, while some will help businesses recover from the disasters, according to the state’s action plan.

The state also launched a Jumpstart Iowa program that will make available $40 million in forgivable loans for housing and businesses recovery.

Fred Love can be contacted at (515) 243-0138 or fred.love@lee.net.