Long-Term Recovery on the Way from Feds for Michigan Flood Damages

 
(TNS) - Nearly three months after the Edenville Dam failure and catastrophic flooding in Midland County, a top official with the U.S. Department of Agriculture visited the community of Sanford on Wednesday to see what long-term help the department can offer.
 
U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Midland, hosted a press conference on Wednesday, Aug. 12, in Sanford with Bette Brand, deputy undersecretary for rural development at the USDA. The event took place in front of shuttered storefronts on the still-closed West Saginaw Road in Sanford, which was previously under water.
 
“It’s just hard to imagine how much devastation a flood could do,” Brand told reporters after having the opportunity to tour the area. “We can help consult the community to make sure that they get what they need, in the order that they need it.”
 
Moolenaar said Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, and the Small Business Administration have been working to aid in the community’s recovery and the USDA can help, too.
 
“The village hall floated from one end of town to the other and crashed into a building. When you consider that kind of a disaster, for a local community to recover after that, they’re going to need assistance and that’s why we’re here to help,” Moolenaar said.
 
“(Brand and I) are meeting with community leaders to talk about what the needs are, developing a list of priorities, what’s the most urgent, what are the long-term needs, and doing everything we can to bring in federal resources,” he continued. “Already, throughout the region there’s been $25 million of federal funds that have been invested in this recovery and rebuild, and we want to make sure we qualify for every possible dollar to help people rebuild their lives.”
 
Sanford Village President Dolores Porte thanked Moolenaar for inviting Brand to the area.
 
“There’s no better way to understand the impact a flood has on a community than to come and see it and live it,” she said. “Yesterday, we toured the area. Next we will be meeting with additional community leaders to discuss what types of funding the USDA can contribute.”
 
Brand talked about the difference between the help FEMA offers and the help USDA can offer. FEMA is “the first on the ground” and responds and helps to stabilize things immediately after a disaster, she said, while USDA can help with long-term recovery.
 
“USDA programs come in and help more with the recovery and with a vision of helping that town prosper,” rather than simply rebuilding, she said. “Many of our programs, our loan programs, can go 40 years or more and work with the community on repayment of the loans and the grant programs and stuff, really work with them for a long-term vision.”
 
Sept. 8 is the deadline to apply for FEMA assistance
 
FEMA has set up a Documentation Drop-off Center for survivors of the May 16-22 flooding and storms to submit any required supporting documents for their disaster assistance application, according to a Midland County flood update. The drop-off center, located at the Dow Diamond Outfield Ticket Office (back parking lot), 825 E. Main St. in Midland, will be open for a limited time and is staffed by FEMA personnel who can scan documents and quickly answer questions about disaster assistance programs.
 
The center is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, and from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday and Saturday.
 
Applicants may register in the following ways:
 
by visiting DisasterAssistance.gov
 
by downloading the FEMA mobile app for smartphones
 
by calling 800-621-3362 (TTY: 800-462-7585) between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. ET, seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.
 
If an individual cannot register online or by phone, registration at the Documentation Drop-off Center is available.
 
Residents seeking assistance must apply through FEMA before Tuesday, Sept. 8.
 
Submit flood insurance claims now
 
Michiganders who have a policy with the National Flood Insurance Program, or NFIP, should submit their claims now for damage caused by the May storms and flooding, according to the Midland County flood update.
 
Policyholders have just 60 days from the date damage occurred to file a flood insurance claim with their insurance agents. However, NFIP is urging residents to still submit claims as late claims may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Policyholders who don’t know who their insurance agent is can call FEMA at 877-336-2627 for assistance.
 
Policyholders who disagree with the resolution of their claims may ask for clarification on the adjuster’s figure(s) and can request an explanation of the policy if an item was excluded from coverage. If unsatisfied with a claim determination, policyholders can complete a no-cost appeals process offered by the NFIP online at www.floodsmart.gov/flood/appeal-your-claim-payment.
 
For more information about the claims process, visit www.floodsmart.gov/start. To learn more about flood insurance coverage, visit FloodSmart.gov or call 877-336-2627.
 
Read more on MLive:
 
Independent investigation will look into what caused Michigan dams to fail
 
Edenville Dam owner files for bankruptcy
 
Sanford residents seek $1.25 million from federal government following Michigan dam failure
 
‘Pretty phenomenal’: How thousands evacuated before Midland-area dam burst with no lives lost
 
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