Deadlines for disaster assistance approaching

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Lake County residents affected by the severe storms and flooding that began June 1 are being asked by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and U.S. Small Business Administration to take several steps toward financial recovery.

Both organizations are asking area residents to file paperwork by Monday, Aug. 25, which is the deadline for several sources of monetary assistance.

FEMA officials would like those affected by the catastrophes to register for disaster assistance – whether they have settled an insurance claim or not – by calling 800-621-3362 (TTY at 800-462-7585) from 7 a.m. to midnight Monday through Saturday or by visiting www.fema.gov.

The Small Business Administration would like homeowners, home renters and business owners to file disaster loan applications, which can be accessed at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/ or by calling 800-659-2955.

"I would assume everybody who has damage has filed with FEMA, but if they haven't, they need to," said Robert Lotspeich, a communications specialist with the Small Business Administration. "They need [to do that] first."

Homeowners and renters must submit a Small Business Administration loan application in order to be considered for some types of FEMA assistance.

If the Small Business Administration determines that a homeowner or renter cannot afford a loan, they will refer them to FEMA for possible grant assistance.

FEMA is working in partnership with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and the Internal Revenue Service to ensure that disaster victims apply for aid on time. Those organizations can answer questions about the various types of disaster-relief programs that are available.

Assistance provided by FEMA can be used for rental assistance and basic housing repairs. Short-term rental assistance is based on the average fair-market rental rates and allows qualified applicants to rent a different place to live while they repair or rebuild their primary residence. Applicants must provide receipts to continue receiving rental insurance.

Homeowners may be eligible for assistance from FEMA that can be used for repairs to make damaged homes safe, sanitary and minimally functional. Out-of-pocket expenses directly related to the disaster could be reimbursed. Receipts need to be kept for all disaster-related expenses.

Residents in Lake County whose wells or septic systems were damaged as a result of the severe storms and flooding may be eligible for grant money from FEMA to complete necessary repairs. Damaged private wells that are the sole source of water for the home may also be repaired or decontaminated.

"We don't want to miss out on anybody," said Kim Anderson, a public information officer with FEMA. "Inspections are free. The deadline [for assistance] is Aug. 25."

The Small Business Administration regulates home loans to $200,000 for the repair or replacement of real estate. The loan limit to repair or replace personal property is $40,000.

Business loans from the Small Business Administration are limited to $2,000,000 for the repair or replacement of real estate, inventories, machinery, equipment and other physical losses. Subject to this maximum, loan amounts can not exceed the verified uninsured disaster loss.

OUTBOX: Need to know more?

U.S. Small Business Administration Disaster Loan Outreach Centers are open in Illinois from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at Dallas City Elementary School, 921 Creamery Hill Road, Dallas City; from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday at Milan Municipal Building, 405 E. 1st St., Milan; and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday at Michelsen's Office Furniture, 8020 N. 2nd St., Machesney Park. Walk-ins are welcome. And a Federal Emergency Management Agency individual assistance specialist will be at each site to answer FEMA-related questions.

To learn more about disaster assistance, visit www.fema.gov. www.floodsmart.gov or www.ready.illinois.gov.

SIDEBAR

Storm victims may qualify for IRS disaster relief

LAKE COUNTY JOURNALS

Victims of recent storms and flooding in Illinois may qualify for tax relief from the Internal Revenue Service.

The IRS is postponing until Friday, Aug. 29, certain deadlines for taxpayers who reside or have a business in the disaster area. The postponement applies to return filing, tax payment and certain other time-sensitive acts otherwise due between June 1 and Aug. 29.

In addition, the IRS will waive the failure to deposit penalties for employment and excise deposits due on or after June 1 and on or before June 16, as long as the deposits were made by June 16.

Affected taxpayers who reside or have a business located outside the covered disaster area must call the IRS disaster hotline at 866-562-5227 to request tax relief.