FEMA TO ASSIST FLOOD VICTIMS IN AREA COUNTIES

The counties of Cape Girardeau, Scott and Mississippi have qualified for individual assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The individual assistance program will provide eligible renters and homeowners in 24 Missouri counties and the city of St. Louis with disaster housing assistance. Such assistance could cover household repairs, alternate rental assistance, mortgage or rental assistance and low-interest disaster loans and grants.

In addition, counseling services will be offered in cases where disasters have caused extreme economic hardship.

FEMA public affairs spokesman LeRoi Brashears said the reason Cape County and Scott County were among the last to be added to the agency's list is because of poor accessibility to flooded areas.

Once FEMA officials were able to assess the full extent of the damage the counties were added to the list.

Only 12 Missouri counties qualified for assistance to repair roads, bridges, public buildings and expenses for emergency and protective measures.

FEMA federal coordinating officer Warren M. Pugh Jr. said eligible residents should understand that the only way to apply for disaster assistance is by calling the toll-free application number.

The state/federal toll-free application number is 1-800-462-9029. For individuals with speech and hearing impairments the number is 1-800-462-7585. Operators will register the information necessary to complete the application. The entire process takes less than 20 minutes.

Pugh said that when FEMA inspectors arrive at the applicant's home, it's important that the flood victim show his or her insurance policy to verify that the policy does not cover sewer backup. If the policy does not cover sewer backup, the application for housing assistance can proceed without delay.

Until the lack of sewer backup coverage is confirmed, an applicant might technically considered ineligible for housing assistance, unnecessarily stalling the housing assistance approval process.

"That's a stressful delay we want to avoid with each applicant," Pugh said. Pugh added that preliminary damage assessment indicates a low rate of sewer backup coverage.

To insure smooth processing of disaster assistance, applicants should also have their insurance agent's name, phone number and any data supporting their maintenance of flood insurance. This is particularly important if these people lived in areas that were flooded in 1993 and 1994.

Several forms of federal and state disaster assistance received by Missourians in 1993 and 1994 required them to maintain flood insurance for three years. Some forms of assistance, including individual and family grants, will not be available to those who did not buy and maintain flood insurance.

FEMA will set up either a mobile office or temporary relief site in about a week, Brashears said.

The individual assistance program is available to Illinois residents and business owners in Madison and St. Clair counties.

A FEMA team is in Alexander County in Southern Illinois this week assessing damage from the flood.

The team is working out of the Alexander County Highway office at Olive Branch. The team was in the Olive Branch and Miller City area Monday and Thebes on Tuesday to check roads and buildings.

FEMA's assessments will determine whether the area is eligible for federal assistance.

1993 INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE

Cape Girardeau County

Number of applications, 390

Number of disaster housing applicants, 248

Total disaster housing (in dollars), $489,929

Number of Individual Family Grant applicants, 215

Total Individual Family Grants (in dollars), $332,721

Number of Small Business Administration (SBA) applicants, 185

Total SBA disaster loan dollars, $120,000

Source: Federal Emergency Management Agency