Federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance is now available to any Freeborn County residents who lost income because of spring flooding or the May 1 tornado.

Wednesday, May 23, 2001

Federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance is now available to any Freeborn County residents who lost income because of spring flooding or the May 1 tornado.

The Disaster Unemployment Assistance program provides temporary income assistance to workers and self-employed individuals whose work has been lost or interrupted as a direct result of flooding beginning March 23, Minnesota Department of Economic Security (MDES) spokesmen said. People who lost income because of the tornado that damaged property in Glenville and rural Freeborn County are also eligible.

People who do not qualify for regular unemployment benefits, but lost part of their primary source of income because of the disasters could be eligible, they said.

&uot;If anyone has a question of whether they are eligible or not, we would encourage them to apply to find out,&uot; said WorkForce Center Job Service Area Manager Joe Kurtzman. &uot;This is something also geared to the self-employed individuals too, such as farmers.&uot;

MDES Commissioner Earl Wilson announced Tuesday that Freeborn County is one of 11 counties and two tribal governments eligible for the assistance.

Applications are available in English or Spanish at the Minnesota WorkForce Center at 1649 West Main St., the Skyline Mall. The deadline for applications is June 20.

For more information, call the Albert Lea Minnesota WorkForce Center office at 379-3409.