Montana's disaster assistance list grows

Flathead is one of 15 Montana counties and one Indian reservation added to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s eligibility list for assistance related to flooding and severe storms earlier this year.

President Barack Obama had signed federal disaster declarations for some Montana counties in June and July.

But this latest addition expands the list of counties eligible for disaster assistance. Now, 31 counties and four reservations are eligible for individual assistance to help homeowners, renters and businesses recover, Gov. Brian Schweitzer said.

Money is available for recovery costs for such things as emergency home repair, temporary disaster housing, replacement grants and expenses not covered by insurance or other assistance programs.

FEMA disaster assistance covers only basic needs and typically doesn’t compensate eligible applicants for their entire loss.

People need to specifically register with FEMA for this program, regardless of any other programs they’ve signed up for, Montana Disaster and Emergency Services Administrator Ed Tinsley said.

To register, people should call FEMA at 800-621-3362 between 5 a.m. and 8 p.m. Online registration also is offered at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.