Additional Counties Approved for FEMA Assistance

SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota, Jan. 10 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency issued the following news release:

Homeowners and renters in Aurora County may now register with FEMA for federal disaster assistance for uninsured and underinsured damage and loss resulting from the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that occurred Sept. 9 - 26, 2019.

FEMA's Individual Assistance program includes a range of aid such as emergency home repair, temporary disaster housing, replacement grants for serious disaster-related needs, and expenses not covered by insurance or other assistance programs. If you have already repaired or replaced damaged items, you may be eligible for reimbursement. People are encouraged to register so that FEMA can determine eligibility.

Registration can be done:

* Online at DisasterAssistance.gov

* By calling the disaster assistance helpline at 800-621-3362 or TTY: 800-462-7585. Lines are open daily from 7 a.m.-11 p.m. Help is available in most languages.

* At one of FEMA's disaster recovery center locations. Find your closest center at fema.gov/drclocator. Centers are accessible and are equipped with video remote interpreting and assistive listening devices. In-person American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters can be requested by calling or texting 605-400-8878.

Clark, Codington, Day and Lincoln counties have also been added to FEMA's government-to-government Public Assistance program.

Public Assistance (PA) is a grant program to assist state and local governments and certain private nonprofit entities. Facilities are eligible for this program if they were damaged during Sept. 9 - 26, 2019 severe storms, tornadoes and flooding, serve a public function and have damage that was not covered by insurance. The PA Program provides:

* Assistance for debris removal

* Implementation of emergency protective measures

* Permanent restoration of infrastructure

* Encourages protection from future damage by providing assistance for hazard measures during the recovery process

Homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations are also able to apply for low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

SBA applications are available at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Residents and businesses can apply in person at any Disaster Recovery Center while open in South Dakota. For questions or center locations, call SBA's Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or 800-877-8339 (TTY), or email [email protected], or visit the SBA's disaster assistance website at sba.gov/disaster.