FEMA urges Eastern Iowans to sign up for flood help

Federal officials in eastern Iowa say things have slowed at the disaster assistance offices set up to handle claims from the June flooding. Federal Emergency Management Agency spokesman Joe Klocek says some flood victims may be mistakenly counting themselves out for help.He says they often find people who’re concerned that if they apply, they’ll take assistance away from neighbors who suffered more damage. Klocek says there are other reasons people don’t apply, such as if they’ve applied for assistance for other past flooding. Klocek says you may be mistakenly cutting yourself out of assistance you deserve. He says the best thing to do is apply and let FEMA decide if you’re eligible for assistance. He talks about what’s eligible for coverage.They cover flood losses that are uninsured and underinsured. Klocek says they’ve had over one thousand people fill out paperwork since opening the office June 19.They’ve had 11-hundred-79 apply and have put out one-point-three millions dollars in housing assistance, 175-thousand in individual grants and 377-thousand dollars in small business grants. For more information, call 800-621-3362.