JEFFERSON CITY More than $547,000 in disaster assistance has been approved in the seven days since President Obama issued a major disaster declaration for Missouri. The disaster declaration is a result of severe storms, tornadoes and flooding from May 8 16.

The latest figures were:

• 577 individuals have registered for disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

• $511,615 has been approved for temporary housing and home repairs

• $35,437 in Other Needs Assistance has been approved for personal property loss, medical costs and other serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance.

The aid available includes temporary housing expense, and the cost of repairs that include structural parts of a home (foundation, outside walls, roof0, windows, doors, floors, walls, ceilings, cabinetry, septic or sewage system, heating and air, utilities (electrical, plumbing, gas systems), entrance and exit ways (including privately owned access roads), issues with a mobile home and complete home replacement.

Affected residents may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance if their employment was lost or interrupted as a result of the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding between May 8 16. The Missouri Department of Labors Division of

Employment Security will be accepting applications for disaster unemployment claims until August 23 [oops FEMA corrected this to July 23]. For information about filing a claim, residents should call (800) 788-4002.

Individual assistance is available in the following counties: Adair, Barry, Barton, Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Christian, Dade, Dallas, Dent, Douglas, Greene, Howell, Iron, Jasper, Jefferson, Laclede, Lawrence, Madison, Newton, Ozark, Polk, Reynolds, Ripley, St. Francois, Shannon, Texas, Washington, and Webster counties.

FEMAs temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA loan officers to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

Information needed usually requires name and social security number, address of damaged property, current address and phone number, insurance information, total household income, a description of losses caused by the disaster and a bank routing and account number for the use of direct deposit.

The U.S Small Business Administration (SBA) is the federal governments primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private nonprofit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts, and covers the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover uninsured and uncompensated losses and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

Homeowners may borrow up to $200,000 to repair or replace their primary residence, homeowners and renters may borrow up to $40,000 to replace personal property and businesses may borrow up to 42 million for any combination of property damage or economic injury. Low interest working capital loans are available to small businesses and most private non-profit organizations having difficulty meeting obligations as a result of the disaster.

If the SBA determines that an applicant cannot afford a loan, SBA automatically will refer the applicant to Other Needs Assistance (ONA) for additional help.

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, sex, religion, nationality, age, disability, English proficiency, economic status, or retaliation. Registration is available at here or by calling toll-free (800) 621-FEMA (3362), (TTY 1-800-462-7585) from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week until further notice.

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