FEMA Disaster Assistance

With FEMA individual assistance now declared for additional Iowa counties, we wanted to make sure we updated you on information related to storm relief for individuals AND businesses alike. Currently this applies to those located in these Iowa counties: Linn, Benton, Boone, Cedar, Jasper, Marshall, Polk, Poweshiek, Scott, Story and Tama

Individual Assistance: 

Apply at https://www.disasterassistance.gov/ (see application notes at the below)

Financial assistance is available for:

  • Housing
    • Includes temporary rental assistance up to 18 months
    • Hotel/motel reimbursements
    • Home repair & replacement (up to $35,500 maximum)
  • Other Needs Including: (Combined Maximum of $35,500)
    • Personal Property Damage Repair/Replacement 
    • Vehicle Repair/Replacement
    • Moving & Storage For a Move From a Damaged Home
    • Dental/Medical Expenses Caused by Storm Damage
    • Funeral Expenses Caused by Disaster
    • Childcare Costs Increased Due to Disaster
    • Other Miscellaneous Costs – Such as Cleaning Efforts

Insurance claims, as available, must be filed first. Assistance will not cover what insurance does cover. Only primary residences are considered for housing assistance (not vacation/secondary homes). 

Additionally, individuals may be eligible to borrow funds from the Small Business Administration to repair/replace your home/personal property (despite the agency that administers this program you do NOT need to be a business owner to qualify). Maximum amounts for these loans are $200,000 for replacement/repair of homes, and $40,000 for repair/replacement of personal property. 

Application Notes

  • If you are applying for both home and business disaster assistance, complete one registration to cover both.
  • You will need to have:
    • Social Security Number (SSN) OR the SSN of a minor child in the household who is a U.S. Citizen, Non-Citizen National or Qualified Alien
    • Annual Household Income
    • Contact Information (phone number, mailing address, email address*, and damaged home address)
    • Insurance Information (coverage, insurance company name, etc.)
    • Bank Account Information (if you are eligible to receive financial assistance, the money can be deposited in your account)

Business Assistance 

Apply at https://www.disasterassistance.gov/ (see application notes at the below)

Businesses that had any of the following may qualify for loans of up to $2 million via the SBA. 

  • Loss of Income Due to the Disaster/Loss of Working Capital During Recovery Period
  • Physical Damage From the Disaster, Including:
    • Real Estate
    • Machinery/Equipment/Furniture/Leasehold Improvements/Fixtures
    • Inventory

Insurance claims, as available, must be filed first. Assistance will not cover what insurance does cover.

Application Notes

Apply at the above link first, indicate that you have an affected business, and then apply here (you will receive an email pursuant to your first application with SBA information): https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/

  • Deadlines: 
    • Physical Damage: October 19, 2020 
    • Economic Injury: May 20, 2021
  • You will need to have:
    • Updated contact information, including phone numbers
    • Social Security Number and FEMA registration number
    • Insurance information including company name, address and policy number
    • Financial information including income, creditor names, monthly payments and balances
    • Legal name of applicant(s) 
    • Employer Identification Number
    • Social Security Numbers for owners with 20% or more ownership of the business

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