Residents with claims for damage to their homes, loss of income from inability to work because of flooding, etc. need to contact a recovery center. Prior to coming to the recovery center, they need to call FEMA’s Disaster Assistance Information toll free number 1-800-621-3362.

Federal and state agencies are working in partnership to help Minnesota residents following the recent severe storms and flooding. People dealing with the uncertainty and stress disasters present often become disoriented and confused. They need simple, easy-to-understand information, which answers their most basic questions.

Federal disaster assistance programs come in several forms. For short-term emergency needs, disaster grants for immediate housing requirements, emergency repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses are available. These programs are meant to help people begin their recovery; they are not designed to return people’s lives to their pre-disaster conditions.

Low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are the primary resource to help homeowners, renters and business owners repair or replace their disaster-related damages. Insurance is the best protection against any disaster losses. Those who suffered damages and have insurance should contact their insurance agent immediately. If underinsured or have unmet needs, people should call and apply for federal assistance.

Applying for Federal Disaster Assistance

The only way to apply for federal assistance is to call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for those with hearing or speech impairment. Both phone lines are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week until further notice and multilingual operators are available to take calls.

Even if you have already reported the damage to the county emergency manager, American Red Cross or other voluntary agencies, you must call the FEMA application number to apply for federal disaster assistance.

Your call is confidential under the Privacy Act of 1974, and the information will be used only to determine what type of assistance is most appropriate.

This call is your application and usually takes only 15-20 minutes to complete. You will be asked general information about your income, your insurance and how badly your residence or business was damaged, the best place to reach you by phone, and your current address. You should give details about your housing needs.

You will be given an application number, which will help locate your application in the system in the future. Write this number down so you will have it handy.

Within a few days you may receive an application package that includes an SBA low-interest disaster loan application. It is very important to complete and return it, even if you have insurance or feel you will not qualify for a loan. Failure to complete and return the application could eliminate you from getting other forms of assistance, including grants.

The assistance process

After your phone application, a FEMA inspector will call you within a few days to arrange an appointment. Before an application can be completed and approved, the location must be inspected to verify the nature and extent of damage.

Residents should not wait for an inspector’s visit before cleaning up flood damage. People should keep receipts for flood damage repairs already completed. It may be helpful to photograph the damage prior to cleanup.

For those with insurance, FEMA inspections are not necessary until after the insurance settlement is complete and eligible losses are identified. You still may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance, Crisis Counseling and Disaster Tax Assistance.

At the inspection you will be asked to sign a document stating that you were lawfully present in the U.S. at the time of the disaster. You will need to present proper identification.

Inspectors will be able to show you official identification to prove their identity. If an inspector asking for access to your home cannot show you a photo ID, do not let him or her into your home and call your local law enforcement agency. Damage inspectors do not recommend repairs or charge for their services.

If you qualify for FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program, you will receive a grant check and separate letter explaining how you may use the check. You may get checks from other programs later.

You may be provided a grant for rental assistance if your home or apartment is unlivable because of the disaster.

Homeowners may use FEMA housing repair grants for essential repairs to make the residence safe and sanitary.

The housing repair grant is only for repairs to make primary rooms functional, such as the bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom.

Disaster Recovery Centers are located in Austin, Albert Lea, Blue Earth and Blooming Prairie. SBA representatives will be available at the centers to issue loan applications, answer questions, help victims complete their applications and accept completed applications. Call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) for locations. Questions can also be answered by calling the SBA Helpline at 1-800-359-2227. These centers are a resource for anyone, even those who did not suffer damage, to find out about cost-effective measures to reduce potential losses from future disasters.

FEMA assistance does not make you whole again, but we can give you a helping hand on the road to recovery.

After you make that first call to 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 to apply, you may receive a loan application package, in the mail, from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Again, it is very important to complete and return it the application package .

SBA offers loans up to $200,000 to repair disaster-damaged primary residences. Homeowners and renters are eligible for loans up to $40,000 to replace personal property such as furniture and clothing.

Loans to businesses of all sizes and nonprofit organizations are available up to $1.5 million to repair damage to real estate and property. Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) are also available to small businesses unable to pay bills or meet operating expenses.

Interest rates can be as low as 3.187 percent for homeowners and renters and 2.900 percent for businesses with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based upon each applicant’s financial condition. The SBA mitigation program allows loans to be increased by as much as 20 percent, to protect real estate from disasters of the same kind.

Types of assistance provided:

-Temporary housing: Money to rent a different place to live or a temporary housing unit, when rental properties are not available.

-Repair: Money for homeowners to repair damage not covered by insurance, to make the home safe and sanitary. The homeowner may need to apply for an SBA low-interest loan before receiving other assistance.

-Other needs assistance: Money for necessary and serious needs caused by the disaster, including medical, dental, funeral, personal property, transportation, and other expenses that FEMA approves.

Applicants may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance, Crisis Counseling and Disaster Tax Assistance.

FEMA information: After you have applied for assistance, you can call the same toll-free numbers, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585, to ask about the status of your application, how assistance programs may be used, for information on the flood insurance program, or for materials on low-cost ways to reduce future disaster damages.

People should still register through FEMA’s 800 number. They cannot register in person at a DRC.

Disaster Recovry Center locations and hours:

Austin DRC:

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, HSEM DRC manager:

Marita Nelson (she will be there Oct. 14-17) 2100 16th St. SW, Austin, MN. Opening Oct. 14 until further notice. Hours:

Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sun (Oct. 17 only) 1p.m.

to 5 p.m.

Albert Lea DRC:

Health Reach Rehab Center, HSEM DRC manager: Suzanne Donnell (she will be there Oct. 14-17), 1705 S. Broadway Ave., Albert Lea, MN

Opening Oct. 14 until further notice Hours:

Same as Austin DRC.

Blue Earth DRC:

Ag Center, HSEM DRC manager:

Dennis Walter (he will be there Oct. 15-17), 415 S. Grove St., Blue Earth, MN. Opening Oct. 15, closing Oct. 17. Hours:

Oct. 15, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Oct. 16,

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Oct. 17, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Blooming Prairie DRC: Blooming Prairie City Center, HSEM DRC manager: Dennis Walter (Oct. 19 and 20),

HSEM DRC manager: Ben Kosel (Oct. 21), 138 Hwy Ave. S., Blooming Prairie, MN. Opening Oct. 19, closing Oct. 21. Hours: Oct. 19 to 21, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.