Indiana issued disaster recovery programs
Comet staff report

New federal disaster aid programs have been made available under President Bush's major disaster declaration issued for Indiana. Assistance for affected individuals and families can include:

• Rental payments for temporary housing for those whose homes are unlivable. Initial assistance may be provided for up to three months for homeowners and at least one month for renters. Assistance may be extended if request after the initial period based on a review of individual applicant requirements.

• Grants for home repairs and replacement of essential household items not covered by insurance to make damaged dwellings safe, sanitary and functional.

• Grants to replace personal property and help meet disaster related needs not covered by insurance or other federal, state and charitable aid programs.

• Unemployment payments up to 26 weeks for workers who temporarily lost jobs because of the disaster who did not qualify for state benefits, such as self employed individuals.

• Low-interest loans to cover residential losses not fully compensated by insurance. Loans available up to $200,000 for primary residence; $40,000 for personal property, including renter losses. Loans available up to $1.5 million business property not full compensated by insurance.

• Loans up to $1.5 million for small businesses that have suffered disaster-related cash flow problems and need funds for working capital to recover from disaster's impact. This loan in combination with a poverty loss loan cannot exceed a total of $1.5 million.

• Loans up to $500,000 for farmers to cover production and property loans, excluding primary residence.

Other relief programs:

• Crisis counseling for those traumatized by the disaster; income tax assistance for filing casualty loses; advisory assistance for legal, veteran benefits and social security matters. Assistance for the State and Affected Local Governments can include:

• Payment of not more than 75 percent of the approved costs for hazard mitigation projects undertaken by state, tribal and local governments to prevent or reduce longterm risk to life and property from natural or technological disasters.

How to apply for assistance:

Those in the counties designated for assistance to affected residents and business owners can begin the application process be registering online at http://www.fema.gov or by calling (800) 621-3362 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Sunday.

Application procedures for local governments will be announced in the affected area by recovery officials. Approved public repair projects are paid through the state from funding provided by FEMA and other participating federal agencies.