Flood Assistance

On Friday, May 10th, President Barack Obama declared Illinois as a disaster area due to severe storms, winds, and flooding between April 16 and May 5, 2013. Residents of Cook County may now apply for disaster assistance through FEMA up until 60 days after the declaration. You will receive an answer very shortly if you qualify for assistance. Disaster assistance is financial or direct assistance to individuals and families whose property has been damaged or destroyed as a result of a federally-declared disaster, and whose losses are not covered by insurance.

You may apply online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). We will update this information to include locations of where individuals could go to apply for assistance once those addresses are released.

When you apply, FEMA will ask for the following information:

• The address of your damaged home or apartment
• Names of people living your household
• A description of your disaster damages
• Insurance information
• Your Social Security Number
• A telephone number where they can reach you or leave a message
• An address where you can get mail

If you want your disaster assistance funds sent directly to your bank, provide the FEMA agent with:

• Your bank account type
• Account number
• Routing number

When you apply, you will be given a FEMA application number. Write down your number and save it for future reference. You will need the application number whenever you contact FEMA.

Businesses and private non-profit organizations of any size may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. The SBA may increase a loan up to 20 percent of the total amount of disaster damage to real estate and/or leasehold improvements, as verified by SBA, to make improvements that lessen the risk of property damage by future similar disasters.

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA's secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is July 9, 2013. The deadline to return economic injury applications is February 10, 2014.