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Flood Victims Begin to Receive Federal Aid
By Dave Franzman, Reporter
By
Becky Ogann
Story Created:
Jun 18, 2008 at 6:16 PM CST
Story Updated:
Jun 18, 2008 at 6:16 PM CST
CEDAR RAPIDS - Money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, is beginning to flow to disaster victims. That was one new bit of news from Wednesday's emergency briefing by city and county leaders. And thousands have already filed the paperwork to start the process.
FEMA staffers were already in Iowa by the time the flood waters rolled through last week. So some of the 14,700 applications for federal assistance to date go back to the Parkersburg tornadoes last month. But the money is starting to flow and some is already flowing to victims of the floods.
"$7.1 million dollars has already been sent or put into the bank accounts of people who are eligible and have registered," said Dick Hainje, FEMA Regional Director.
Hainje says 145 FEMA inspectors are available to look at homes after being contacted by owners and the average wait time for the inspection necessary for a claim is currently two days.
One idea to ward off any scam artists moving into the area to help with the clean up and restoration is some sort of an identification system and the city is working on a plan.
Eastern Iowans have battled floods for barely a week, although to some it probably seems like forever.
"Everybody needs to be patient...we know what we need to do and we know how to go about doing it...so it will happen...it just won't be in a hurry," said Kay Halloran, Cedar Rapids Mayor.
The Cedar Rapids city council is meeting Wednesday night at the Eastern Iowa Airport Administrative Building. It started 6 o'clock.
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