FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 11, 1997
Contact: Linda Marson (202)224-8440 or Dana Hagerty (202)225-2165
U.S. Senator Paul D. Wellstone and U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson joined forces today urging victims of the recent disaster to seek assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
"Minnesotans I've been talking to in the 7th District know that a federal disaster has been declared, but they didn't always know where to turn for help, or what kinds of help they can get. We want people to know who to contact, and where to go to get answers to their questions," Peterson said.
"I am so grateful for the Administration's quick response to the need for Federal assistance in Minnesota," Senator Wellstone said. "I have been traveling with Vice President Gore, FEMA Director James Lee Witt, and other concerned officials this week. I really appreciate all their efforts on behalf of Minnesotans. People need not only the support of their friends and neighbors, they need the support that only the Federal government can provide."
According to Wellstone and Peterson, anyone in the disaster area who has experienced damage to home or property, loss of job, or other loss due to disaster-related conditions should contact the FEMA Disaster Hotline at 1-800-462-9029, TTD 1-800-462-7585. Referrals will be made on an individual case basis.
The types of assistance available include:
Emergency Assistance: Available to individuals and families with disaster-related emergency needs.
Disaster Housing Assistance: Grants for temporary housing or emergency repairs available to homeowners and renters whose permanent homes are uninhabitable because of the disaster
Home/Personal Property Disaster Loans: Small Business Administration low-interest loans for restoring or replacing uninsured or underinsured disaster-damaged real and personal property.
Individual and Family Grant Program: Grants for persons with unmet necessary expenses and serious needs who do not qualify for SBA disaster loans.
Business Disaster Loans: SBA loans for repair or replacement of destroyed or damaged business facilities, inventory etc., not covered by insurance. Economic Injury Disaster Loans provide working capital to assist small businesses during the recovery period.
Crisis Counseling: Screening, diagnostic and counseling techniques to meet mental health needs of those individuals affected by disaster.
Tax Assistance: Expedited federal tax deduction for casualty losses to home, person property or household goods available to individuals and families with disaster-related losses totaling more than 10 percent of adjusted gross income (AGI).
Disaster Unemployment Assistance: Benefits available to all individuals out of work as a direct result of the disaster, including self-employed persons, farm owners, and others not eligible for regular unemployment insurance.
Farm Assistance: Loans and grants available to farmers who were operating and manage a farm at the time of the disaster.
Insurance Information: Assistance and counseling regarding ways to obtain copies of lost policies, file claims, expedite settlements, etc.
Legal Assistance: Free legal services for low-income disaster victims including information on replacing legal documents, transferring titles, insurance problems, etc.
Social Security Benefits: Assistance expediting delivery of checks delayed by the disaster and help with applying for Social Security disability and survivor benefits.
Veterans benefits: Assistance in applying for VA benefits, pensions and adjustments to VA-insured home mortgages.
Consumer Services: Counseling on consumer problems such as product shortages, price gouging and disreputable business practices.
Aging Services: Services to the elderly such as meals home care and transportation
According to Wellstone and Peterson, FEMA should be the first point of contact for most victims.