Deadline Approaches To Apply For FEMA Assistance In Minnesota

Heavy rain and storms from June 16 through July 4th brought extreme flooding and damage to many Minnesota residents. 19 counties were declared a disaster area and that sent in FEMA to lend a hand. To this date, $7.7 million dollars and counting has been granted to individuals in Minnesota.

More than 1600 homeowners and renters across the designated 19 counties received the funds after they applied. Recently a disaster recovery center opened across the state, including one in nearby Virginia, Minnesota. The recovery centers serve as a one-stop place for all questions you may need answered.

Read More: 19 Counties Designated For FEMA Assistance In Minnesota

The deadline to apply for assistance is approaching.

The deadline to apply for assistance is on September 27th. You can apply online ad DisasterAssistance.gov, through the FEMA app, or by calling the FEMA helpline at 1-800-621-3362.

Disaster recovery centers' hours have been updated:

On August 30th, all disaster recovery centers will be open from 7:30 am - 6:30 pm. Saturday, August 31, the hours will be open from 9 am -4 pm. They will be closed on Monday for Labor Day, and then resuming a Monday - Friday 9 am - 6:30 pm schedule on Tuesday. Following the holiday weekend, Saturday hours will be 9 am - 4 pm.

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There are more items covered than you might expect.

Residents who have had underinsured or uninsured damage from the storms can apply if it is their primary residence. Small businesses that were damaged can get assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration. Those specialists will also be available at the recovery centers across the state, including the one in Virginia at the St. Louis County Public Works facility, 7823 Highway 135 in Virginia.

Besides property damage, residents can also get assistance to cover other costs like:

• temporary housing assistance
• moving and storage costs
• primary vehicle repair or replacement
• damaged furniture
• damaged appliances (including HVAC systems)
• childcare costs

How the process and appeals work.

Once you apply, look for a letter in the mail or e-mail explaining whether you are approved for assistance, how much you'll receive, and how to appeal the decision if you don't agree with it.

Kim Keblish, Public Affairs Specialist with FEMA also encourages people to appeal the decision if they aren't happy with it. In some cases, it could be a simple mistake of paperwork on your application.