416 apply for aid; over $226,000 approved
Mon, 09/05/2016 - 07:52
Raymond Daye
Raymond L. Daye
The costs of recent heavy rains in Avoyelles is already high and expected to increase as more victims apply and damage to parish farms is assessed.
“As of Aug. 31, 416 people have registered for federal assistance,” Avoyelles Office of Emergency Preparedness Director Joey Frank said. “Over $226,000 in aid has been approved so far.” Those 416 applications include people who have had damage to homes, businesses, vehicles and personal property.
Mayor John Lemoine said there were more than 50 homes that flooded in Marksville. Frank said there were also reports of some homes flooding in the Simmesport, Mansura, Bunkie and Cottonport areas.
Frank said FEMA has personnel registering those with flood damages. There are also some FEMA inspectors in the parish assessing damage. He said FEMA can provide up to $33,000 for “Basic Disaster Relief” to an individual applicant.
Damage to crops
Crop damage is also expected to be substantial in Avoyelles. County Agent Justin Dufour said the LSU AgCenter and other agriculture agencies will be doing a “large and descriptive survey of damages. We will assess the overall damage to crops caused by the flooding.”
It is important to apply for federal assistance, even if a homeowner doesn’t believe they qualify, Marksville City Engineer Rene Borrel said.
“If you fill out an application, you may not get anything,” Borrel said. “If you do not fill out an application, you definitely will not get anything.”
Borrel and other city officials participated in a Louisiana Municipal Association-sponsored discussion last month concerning the disaster assistance programs.
An applicant can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov. or download the FEMA app. They can also call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362.
aid available
Federal aid is not just available for actual physical damage to property. Borrel said landlords of rental property flooded could qualify for federal Small Business Administration (SBA) loans.
FEMA can pay one month’s rent for a displaced renter and for temporary housing costs of up to three months for a homeowner.
FEMA can also help meet medical or transportation needs that aren’t covered by insurance.
Those who lost their jobs due to the flood and are not self-employed can receive up to 26 weeks of unemployment payments. Self-employed people may qualify for state benefits.
The SBA can provide low-interest loans for individual and commercial repairs. There are loans of up to $200,000 to repair primary residences and $40,000 for lost personal property. Businesses can apply for loans of up to $2 million. These loans are intended to bridge the gap between the point where insurance runs out and where the victims are “made whole.”
Applications can be submitted online, in person at a Disaster Recovery Center or by mail. At this time there is no center in Avoyelles.
Farmers, ranchers and farm-raised seafood producers can receive loans of up to $500,000 through the Department of Agriculture to rebuild their businesses.
Local governments can also seek “hazard mitigation” assistance from the federal government for projects and efforts that will minimize future damage during disasters. These programs almost always require matching funds from the local and/or state governments to secure the federal funds.
Read the letter
Frank reminds property owners to read any letters indicating their application has been denied. In many cases, the reason is due to a missing signature or document, such as the insurance determination letter, proof of identity or proof of occupancy/ownership.
Frank said the Louisiana Bar Association has also offered to provide free legal advice to flood victims.