INQUISITR.COM / News & Politics

Obama Signs Michigan Disaster Declaration, FEMA Grants, Loans Available

By Dawn Papple
Published on: 11:40 PST, Sep 27, 2014

President Obama signed a declaration of disaster for the State of Michigan on Thursday, according to a press release from the White House. The signed disaster declaration made federal funds available to help recovery efforts for those who were affected by the massive flooding and severe storms that hit Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne Counties in southeast Michigan during the period of August 11-13, 2014. Governor Snyder declared the disaster in Michigan on August 13.

The funding will provide assistance to residents in these areas through grants for home repairs and temporary housing as well as low-cost loans to help people who suffered losses of uninsured property. Other programs will be available for individuals and business owners in the Detroit area as well.

“Federal funding also is available to state, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms and flooding in the counties of Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne,” according to the information from the White House.

According to FEMA, business owners and residents who were affected by the flooding and storm in these areas began applying for assistance on Friday. FEMA also made allowances for additional assistance to be made available to Michiganders affected by the disaster in August. For the additional funding to be designated to Michigan for the disaster in August, the State of Michigan will need to request the extra assistance and demonstrate that the need is warranted through future damage assessments.

The Detroit area flood left vehicles under several feet of water or more in some areas. Some basements and yards flooded. Inquisitr reported at the time as Detroiters took to social media to post pictures of the parts of the city that were suddenly underwater.

Residents and business owners in the specified Michigan counties that have been affected by the storms and flooding in August can register online or by telephone by calling (800) 621-FEMA (3362). A telephone line specifically for hearing and speech impaired people has been set up. This special line is (800) 462-7585.

The toll-free telephone numbers that have been set up will operate seven days a week, according to WXYZ News. Applicants will need to call between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m..

Statewide, the federal disaster funding made possible by President Obama’s signature on the declaration will be available to the State of Michigan on a “cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation.”

[Image derived via Facebook video stills]

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