LAWRENCE COUNTY FEMA offers residents housing grants

The county was granted disaster status for flooding Sept. 8 and 9.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- There are 217 Lawrence County residents who applied for disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency so far and more are expected.
FEMA spokeswoman Susan Greatorex said about $144,000 in disaster housing grants were approved, along with $53,250 in repair grants for county residents.
The housing grants pay for temporary housing for people forced from their homes because of disaster. The other grant pays for repairs or replacement of medical equipment and other items lost.
Greatorex said they expect more calls from residents because Lawrence County was among seven counties granted assistance on Tuesday for flooding resulting from a tropical depression Sept. 8 and 9. The county previously had been approved for flooding resulting from Ivan and Jeanne from Sept. 17 to Oct. 1.
Hot line
Greatorex said anyone who called for damages occurring early in September, before the designation was made last week, should call FEMA's hot line again to be certain they are registered.
"They shouldn't need to register again, however, we do want them to make sure they have a FEMA registration number," she said.
FEMA inspectors will contact people who call, she said. Calls to (800) 621-3362 will be taken through Nov. 18, she added.
FEMA officials also urge people who initially are turned down for grants to fill out applications for U.S. Small Business Administration loans. After filling out the paperwork, it may be determined residents could meet guidelines for other grants.
cioffi@vindy.com