Roughly ten million dollars in federal assistance has been provided to residents impacted by flooding that hit mid-Michigan June 22-27.
Residents in Gladwin, Isabella, Bay, and Midland Counties can apply for Federal Disaster Assistance grants from FEMA and small interest loans from the Small Business Administration.
Nate Custer is with FEMA. He said residents have until October second to apply for assistance.
“We’ve had about 2,100 people who have registered. The bulk of that being in Midland County with Isabella County being, if you want to call it that, in second place as far as people who have signed up to be considered on a case by case basis for some help by FEMA to help them get back on their feet.”
Custer said residents can apply for aid in person at disaster recovery centers in Isabella and Midland Counties. Centers in Gladwin and Bay counties have been closed.
“Those were the two smallest countries in terms of registration and it was felt by FEMA and our state partners, the Michigan Emergency Management, that all the people who wanted to take advantage of coming in and talking to someone from FEMA and SBA face to face have done so. It was a declining visitation.”
Cheryl Kitts is a with the Small Business Administration. She said counties outside the four with federal disaster declarations can also apply for small interest loans.
“A lot of people think that because our name is small business that we only work with small businesses but actually during times of disaster the small business administration offers small interest loans not only to homeowners but also to renters.”
The grants and loans are meant to cover damage not covered by insurance.
You can apply for federal assistance online at http://www.disasterassistance.gov