It’s been one month since the presidential disaster declaration that opened the door for Iowans who suffered storm-damage losses to apply for federal aid. FEMA’s Stan Kramer says in that time many have already completed the application process and received a check in the mail.Seven-point-three-million dollars in disaster assistance grants and low-interest loans in all has now been approved for Iowans who suffered losses before the declaration of May 25th. He says FEMA will keep its offices in Iowa as long as there’s a need to fill, and as long as people keep calling the toll-free number to begin the registration process for aid. And the process has been concluded for many who already applied: The total number of people who’ve called is 3,463 and he says three-point-four million of that seven-point-four-million total is made up grants. Those come as money that does not have to be repaid. In addition, another four-point-two million is money approved by the Small Business administration, low-interest loans for home and business repairs. The SBA’s had 2-thousand 821 applications for those loans. Kramer says there are three basic categories of help authorized by FEMA for Iowans who’ve lost property to storm damage and flooding. The third area is “Other Needs Assistance,” grants to help people with pressing personal needs like transportation and medical or dental work while they try to put their lives back together. It’s the smallest category but still includes nearly three-quarters of a million dollars given to Iowans working to repair their property and restore lives torn apart by the storms this spring.
