CALLS FOR FLOOD AID SCARCE

Although as many as 130 homes in Cape Girardeau County might be eligible for state and federal flood assistance, only 53 county residents have registered for the aid.

Federal Emergency Management Agency officials continue to urge flood victims to call the registration hotline to find out if they are eligible for flood assistance.

FEMA spokesman LeRoi Brashears said if flood victims already have started repairs to their homes, they might still be entitled to refunds from FEMA.

"If they keep all of their receipts, they could still get money back for work they started doing," he said.

Reimbursement may be available for home repairs -- including problems caused by sewer backup -- personal property repairs and replacement, transportation, and medical, dental or funeral expenses.

FEMA officials blamed the apparent lack of applications for assistance on the 10-day lag between the time when areas were declared eligible for disaster aid and the day counties were declared eligible for individual assistance.

The gap might have left many flood victims thinking they weren't able to recoup money already spent on flood repairs.

Some 40 residents of Commerce have called the registration hotline. "There are probably more who are eligible but don't know it," Brashears said.

To find out if you are eligible, call FEMA's registration number 1-800-462-9029. Registration is open from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. daily.

Cape Girardeau and Scott Counties aren't the only disaster areas that have shown low registration numbers.

Of the 24 counties eligible for individual assistance, only 1,240 individuals have registered.

"We realize that because of buyouts in 1993 there will be fewer people registering this time," Brashears said. "But we believe there are a lot more people than 1,240 who are eligible but still haven't called."