FEMA extends deadline for assistance requests

Individuals and businesses that suffered damages in the flooding spawned by massive rains in mid-March will have more time to ask for federal assistance, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency announced Tuesday. The 30-day extension from Tuesday's original deadline will also give people additional time to seek U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loans, the agencies said in a news release. The extension only applies to damages from flooding in 35 counties declared as disaster areas in late March. So far, FEMA has approved more than $12.2 million in aid to households as a result of the flooding. The SBA has approved $5.6 million in disaster loans. To register or check on the status of a claim, contact FEMA at 800-621-3362 or at www.fema.gov.

— From staff reports