The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has set up a Disaster Recovery Center at NEIU after the federal government declared disaster areas in Cook and some surrounding counties.
The center opened on Oct. 7 in response to the September flooding in the area. FEMA is working in partnership with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and with other state, county, and local governments to offer federal disaster assistance.
Federal funding is available to supplement state and local recovery efforts. Individuals affected by the September storms and flooding may receive assistance from grants to loans and other programs to assist in recovery. Representatives at the Disaster Recovery Center, located in NEIU’s Physical Education Complex, provide more information and assistance with registering for available programs.
According to an IEMA and FEMA press release, residents in declared counties that sustained damage or property losses from the September storms and flooding should register with FEMA for assistance even if they have insurance. “It is important to know what your policy covers,” said Andrew Velasquez III, director of IEMA, in the press release. “For example, if your insurance does not cover the expense of being displaced from your home, FEMA disaster housing assistance may help.”
“Insurance may not cover all your needs,” said FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer Libby Turner in a press release. “So registering and staying in touch with FEMA is very important.”
Sarah Gilbert, Disaster Recovery Center manager, said, “Our goal is to get people back into safe, sanitary and functional housing.” Gilbert said the center has seen approximately 200 people so far but they suspect there are hundreds more that have not registered or sought assistance. “They don’t believe there is anyone here that is going to help them,” Gilbert said. “I’m afraid we may be missing people that need help.”
Individuals must register with FEMA online or by phone, but Gilbert explains that the face-to-face interaction with the center’s representatives can help the process go more smoothly. Representatives will help individuals determine what assistance they may qualify for. Gilbert said, “This is also where we take care of people that can’t register” by phone or online either because they are having difficulty with some part of the process or because they do not have a Social Security number.
According to officials from FEMA and IEMA, even non-U.S. citizens may be able to receive disaster assistance. Kim Anderson, Public Information Officer, said on the issue of non-citizenship, “At least come and find out what it is you are qualified for.”
Officials are urging individuals to register, even those that do not think they qualify. “Even if you are not eligible for grants from FEMA, disaster assistance is also available from many voluntary agencies. Your citizenship or immigration status does not matter there,” according to FEMA officials.
Information is available in several different languages to reflect the needs of the community they serve. The Disaster Recovery Center offers literature in English, Spanish, Korean, Arabic, Urdu, Farsi, Chinese and Hebrew. Translators are also available as needed.
After registering with FEMA, individuals will meet with a FEMA Inspector to evaluate the damage. “If you have already had clean-up done, keep receipts and photos,” Anderson said. The FEMA inspectors do not determine eligibility of assistance. They simply document the damage. There are no charges associated with the inspections and they are a necessary part of the recovery assistance process.
Responses are anticipated to take anywhere from 5-14 business days, depending on the center’s workload. However, Gilbert explains that they have responded to applicants in as little as three days.
Gilbert said that individuals that have already done repairs should still register in case problems arise in the future. “If that furnace goes out in the future because it was submerged during the flooding,” Gilbert said. “I think about the Chicago cold winters and people not being able to get heat.”
There are representatives from the Hazard Mitigation Department at the center. They function to minimize damage, such as mold, that may appear even after clean up has occurred. Representatives from the IRS are also available to assist people in understanding tax implications. There are federal tax breaks for individuals affected by disaster.
The Disaster Recovery Center at NEIU is scheduled to run until the end of the month. However, it is not certain how long registration will go. Representatives at the center explain that it depends on the need. They will have to assume the need has been met when individuals stop coming in for assistance. The center will be open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Other Disaster Recovery Centers in the area are located in Wheaton, Oak Forest and Des Plaines. They provide services for affected areas in Cook, DuPage, Kane, DeKalb, LaSalle, Grundy and Will counties.
Individuals can register by calling 800-621-FEMA or visiting www.fema.gov. Representatives are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week until further notice, with service in many languages.