Disaster recovery centers opened Thursday in Madison and Lawrence counties for people affected by April storms in Kentucky.
Specialists from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Small Business Administration are on site to help survivors apply for grants and loans.
Jim Homstad is a spokesman for FEMA. He says aid is available for individuals who suffered losses from severe storms, tornadoes, flooding, landslides and mudslides that occurred April 2-17 of this year.
“Housing assistance, which can be funding to help you repair your home and make safe, sanitary and functional," said Homstad. "And also something like rental assistance where you can be provided grants to rent an apartment or home until you get back on your feet.”
Homstad says as the need arises, he anticipates that additional centers will open around the state.
Jack Camp is a spokesman for U.S. Small Business Administration. Camp says the first step toward receiving assistance is to register with FEMA. From there, he says most individuals will be referred to the SBA.
“Even if they don’t want a loan, they need to go ahead and apply for that loan," said Camp. "They don’t have to take it and it doesn’t cost them anything to apply. But if we can’t approve them a loan, then we are going to send them back to FEMA and there may be additional grant monies available to them.”
People who sustained losses in Bath, Bourbon, Carter, Elliott, Franklin, Jefferson, Lawrence, Madison, Rowan and Scott counties are eligible for aid.
Registration is available online at www.disasterassistance.gov, or by calling 800-621-FEMA. survivors apply for grants and loans.
The deadline to apply for assistance for physical damages is June 30th 2015.
