FEMA says it has approved half of Eastern Ky. flood claims, talks temporary housing plans
After criticism it was approving too few relief claims for flood victims in Eastern Kentucky, the Federal Emergency Management Agency says it has OK’ed at least half of the 11,000 applications it’s received so far.
In a conference call with reporters Monday, agency representatives said FEMA has approved 5,734 of the 11,306 total relief applications it had received as of close of business Sunday.
About 1,800 claims to date have been deemed ineligible for FEMA assistance. Agency representatives said on the call that its employees are still working with those applicants to see what options are available for them. Some 2,000 applications for FEMA assistance changed from ineligible to eligible Monday alone, they said.
Johanna Strickland, a public affairs specialist for FEMA, echoed those comments in an email Monday afternoon.
“Of the 11,306 applications FEMA has received, $45.7 million in direct assistance has been approved for more than 5,734 homeowners and renters who suffered damage from the recent floods in Eastern Kentucky,” Strickland wrote.
“FEMA is taking steps to call and text survivors who we have not been able to contact or who have been deemed ineligible to address any missing documentation or missing information. Additionally, we are reaching out to applicants we have not been able to contact by sending specialized teams door-to-door who can conduct home inspections, provide applicant updates and answer any questions on the spot,” the representative continued. “Through these efforts, 2,080 ineligible applicants have been made eligible as of noon today. 1,866 applications currently remain ineligible.”
FEMA is also continuing to explore sites for potential temporary housing, the agency’s representatives said on the call Monday afternoon.
Gov. Andy Beshear said during his weekly news conference Thursday more than 700 people have applied for trailers, though currently only about 100 are available at various state parks in Eastern Kentucky.
“We are going to be augmenting the 100 trailers we’ll have available. Probably doubling that number at least,” he said, as reported by Yahoo News.
Who qualifies for temporary housing?
According to FEMA, applicants must be:
Homeowners or renters whose home received major damage (significant structural damage that requires extensive repairs and is not safe and functional to live in) or has been destroyed (total loss or damaged to such an extent that repair is not feasible) as a result of the disaster (based on the FEMA inspection);
And the applicant’s primary residence is within one of the four counties designated for FEMA’s Direct Temporary Housing Assistance. Those are Breathitt, Knott, Letcher and Perry counties.
What steps is FEMA taking to increase housing availability?
Friday, FEMA put out a call stating it was seeking property management companies to support disaster victims by directly leasing their properties to the agency.
FEMA said it will cover the rent of disaster victims the companies rent to, while utility costs and other expenses not covered in the lease will be the responsibility of the tenants.
The agency is primarily looking for properties in Breathitt, Knott, Letcher and Perry counties, along with those up to an hour away from the disaster-affected areas or “a distance that does not place an undue hardship” on disaster victims, FEMA said.
The agency also laid out conditions participating property management companies must meet, including registering with FEMA and complying with federal housing quality standards, among other conditions. Registration is through SAM.gov.
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