River Forest residents struggling to recover from severe storms and flooding, Sept. 13-14, now have additional resources available. The federal government announced Friday that federal flood aid has been made available to supplement state and local recovery efforts in flood-ravaged areas like River Forest.
Federal Emergency Management Assistance Administrator David Paulison said the aid includes grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses. Low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration also will be available to cover residential and business losses not fully compensated by insurance.
FEMA’s Elizabeth Turner has been named the federal coordinating officer for recovery operations in the seven-county area, including River Forest. Turner said Friday that damage surveys are continuing in other areas, and more counties and additional forms of assistance may be designated after the assessments are complete.
Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties can begin applying for assistance by registering online at www.fema.gov or by calling 1-800/621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800/462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, until further notice.
-Bill Dwyer