How To Help Flood Victims In Minnesota

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1 Welcome to the Disaster Recovery Resource Fair! We are here to help you find assistance and services needed for recovery from the recent disaster. Use this guide to find out who is here and what assistance they are providing. Visit with program assistance staff and agencies at the numbered tables. If you have questions, talk to a host or hostess wearing the orange hats and they will assist you. Refreshments are available in the Resource Fair area. Save this guide for future reference. This Disaster Recovery Resource Fair Guide has been updated with assistance services currently available as of 10/10/07. The third Disaster Recovery Resource Fair is scheduled for next Tuesday, November 20, 2007 at the Rushford-Peterson High School Gymnasium (7-9 PM). For up-to-date disaster recovery information visit: Note that these deadlines are approaching: SBA Disaster Assistance Loans November 15, 2007 State of MN Quickstart Home Loans January 14, 2008 [Type text]

2 Table 1 Table 2 Table 3 Table 4 FEMA Disaster Assistance DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 14, 2007 The FEMA Individuals and Households Program helps families be safely housed and covers necessary expenses and serious needs following a disaster. FEMA provides assistance with temporary housing, repair, replacement and permanent housing construction, personal property, medical, dental, funeral and other items. To be considered for assistance the affected home must be your primary residence, the home must be located in the declared disaster area, your necessary expense or serious need must have occurred in the declared disaster area and you must be a United States citizen, a non-citizen national, or a qualified alien. Apply by calling FEMA at or FEMA or visit us online at SBA Small Business Administration Disaster Loans DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 14, 2007 Visit with a representative of SBA to find out the details about: Loans to homeowners or renters to repair or replace damaged real estate or personal property. Loans to businesses to repair or replace disaster damaged property of the business. Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) Loans to small businesses and agriculture cooperatives to assist them through the disaster recovery period. Call Customer Service at (800) Quick Start Loans State of MN Home Loan Program DEADLINE: JANUARY 14, 2008 Application for Quick Start Loan State of Minnesota forgivable loan program for homeowners in Houston, Fillmore, Dodge, Steele, and Winona counties contact SEMCAC at (507) Olmsted County Contact the Rochester HRA at (507) Wabasha County Contact Three Rivers at (507) SEMCAC Quick Start Loan Application for Houston, Fillmore, Dodge, Steele, and Winona Counties. Examples of other services provided are Weatherization, Food Shelf, Energy Assistance, and Senior Dining. Our mission is to assist people to achieve or maintain independence and self-reliance through their own and community resources. Please stop by SEMCAC s booth for more information about our services. Wendy Todd, SEMCAC Outreach & Emergency Services Director 1756 Kraemer Drive Winona, MN (507) [Type text]

3 Tables 5 & 6 Table 7 Table 8 Table 9 Lutheran Social Service/Lutheran Disaster Response (LSS/LDR) and The Salvation Army Long Term Recovery Case Managers Both agencies provide you with a one-on-one long-term recovery relationship, which starts with assessing your needs and insures that you have safe, warm housing. We then problem solve with you and your family on what to do with your disaster-affected home. We assist in the decisions necessary to find funding and resources to rebuild and recover. We will do advocacy work for you as individuals and for the affected community as a whole. We access resources from as many sources as possible and connect the resources to our clients in a timely manner. Check out what we have to offer. Contacts: Liz Bickford & Joy Edge (507) and Nancy Beers (507) Lutheran Disaster Relief/Lutheran Social Services (LDR/LSS) Volunteer Rebuilders Program Matches volunteer rebuilders with home owners who need volunteers to help rebuild their homes. Contact (507) for help with rebuilding. American Red Cross The Southeast Minnesota Chapter of the American Red Cross is committed to the long term recovery needs of Dodge, Fillmore, Olmsted and Wabasha counties. We work with LSS/LDR/The Salvation Army caseworkers to provide the identified unmet needs of individuals and families. We assist individuals and families by providing financial support for unmet needs of housing, food, clothing, health, mental health and utilities. In order to receive this assistance you must meet with a caseworker. For more info please call Brenda Ziebell, Emergency Services Director SE MN Chapter of the American Red Cross, at (507) or visit us online at Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) Disaster Response Services Helps to identify any gaps an individual has with personal, household or construction needs. If you have not completed the CRWRC Survey stop by our table and we will assist you. CRWRC is a partner with the local Rushford Area Disaster Alliance for Recovery and their work will help to fill in unmet needs of disaster survivors. Contact: Angie Brown (507) Table 10 [Type text] Minnesota Workforce Center Visit with Employment Counselor If you have lost your job due to the flood you are eligible for unemployment to find jobs for six months or until you have earned $12,000. This program provides access to jobs needed to help you recover. Contact Tami Scheff Phone: (507) ; tscheff@wfdi.ws Workforce Development Center 905 Enterprise Drive, Rushford Check the state government pages of your phone book for a MN Workforce Center near you.

4 Table 11 Table 12 Table 13 Table 14 Table 15 Table 16 Flood Recovery Partners Provides outreach, emotional support, counseling, information and referral for anyone affected by the 2007 flooding. It is a federally funded program. The Fillmore County office is located at the old TRW building. We have computers with internet access, printer, and fax available for public use during office hours (Monday-Saturday, 10-6). Contact: Heather Geerts Fillmore, Olmsted, Dodge, and Steele Counties (888) Winona, Wabasha, and Houston Counties (800) or (800) United Way CompuSwap Refurbished Computer Program Has applications available for individuals and not-for profit agencies to receive refurbished computers. Contact: Jeff at (507) or jeffb@uwolmsted.org County Public Health Service Fillmore County Public Health Service Provides information on well disinfection, how to obtain a water testing kit, mold and other health-related issues. Public Health provides the Women, Infants, and Children s (WIC) food supplement program, flu shot clinics, and a free child safety car seat program. Contact us at (507) County Veterans Services Fillmore County Veterans Service Office Provides support to veterans, widows of veterans, children of a deceased or disabled veterans, and parents who lost a son or daughter in military service. We help individuals apply for various federal and state veterans' benefits. We work with the Federal and Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, and other veteran organizations to inform veterans of the various benefits for which they are eligible. Where appropriate, we provide referrals to other agencies. (507) Fillmore County Demolition and Debris Removal Grant Debris Removal grants are being awarded for demolition and/or debris removal from a primary residence due to flood damage that occurred between August 18 th and 31 st. To be eligible for the grant, documentation must be presented that verifies that that the costs were not covered by insurance, FEMA, or other sources. Applicants must also present invoices they have paid and show proof of proper waste disposal. Applications and complete criteria should be submitted to the Fillmore County Auditor/Treasurer s Office, Courthouse in Preston. (507) County Assessor Your property will be assessed at various points in the flood recovery process. Find out how that information will be used and why it is important to know the process. Fillmore County Assessor (507) Houston County Assessor (507) Winona County Assessor (507)

5 Table 17 Table 18 Table 19 Table 20 Table 21 Table 22 Table 23 Rushford Village Visit with Rushford Village Clerk, Judy Graham, about how to get a building or demolition permit and rules for demolition and rebuilding. She will have building permit forms and information on how to hook up to city water. Share your issues or concerns about electric, sewer, and water service. Contact Judy at (507) City of Rushford Visit with City of Rushford Clerk, Kathy Zacher, about how to get a building or demolition permit and rules for demolition and rebuilding. She will have building permit forms and information on how to hook up to city water. Share your issues or concerns about electric, sewer, and water service. Contact Kathy at (507) Rushford Bankers We will answer general financial questions and/or help you formulate questions you could ask other agencies, lenders, and creditors. Associated Bank Jeanne Feldmeier, President, and Kari Johnson, Personal Banker Rushford State Bank Dwayne Ostrem, Senior Vice-President University of Minnesota Extension Family Resource Management Educators We help those affected by the flood work through their financial options (pros and cons) by providing confidential and trustworthy education so individuals can make informed financial decisions. Arrange appointments by contacting Lutheran Disaster Recovery at (507) Family Means Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) Assists with personal budgeting & debt repayment plan options. Worksheets mailed for completion prior to meeting. To schedule an in-person or telephone meeting call (800) Southern MN Legal Services, INC May be able to assist you with referrals on the following issues: Foreclosures, Bankruptcy, and Zoning. We will make every attempt to connect you with an appropriate legal referral through the local law firms in southeastern Minnesota, metro law firms, Volunteer Lawyers Network in Minneapolis, Legal Corps, and the Young Lawyers Division of the Minnesota State Bar Association. To be screened for an appointment, please contact Mary Stoos at (800) or (507) Internal Revenue Service Provides information to help them understand the federal income tax implications of their loss, how to access lost tax documents, what types of records and receipts will be needed to document the loss for tax purposes, how to claim the loss, etc. Visit with one of our staff. Carole Smith, Stakeholder Liaison, Internal Revenue Service Contact Carol at Carole.A.Smith@irs.gov or call (651)

6 Table 24 Table 25 Table 26 University of Minnesota Local and Regional Extension Educators Provide an Action List including deadlines, programs, and services available. Find in the Action List important steps to take as you develop your flood recovery plan. Extension will also provide research-based information to help you deal with farm and home flood related issues through fact sheets and access to web-based information that is researched based. How to use a moisture meter will be demonstrated and information provided about septic systems and flood considerations. Contact the regional office at (507) USDA Farm Service Agency DEADLINE: DECEMBER 31, 2007 Provides information to farm and land owners about the flood assistance available for such things as crop loss, fence repair, etc. Fillmore County (507) Winona County (507) Houston County (507) NRCS Natural Resources Conservation Service Provides assistance with erosion control- repair waterways, terraces, and ponds. Fencing and debris removal. Specific land retirement programs, Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP), and other Federal programs. Fillmore County (507) Winona County (507) Houston County (507) The Rushford Area Flood Recovery Resource Fairs are sponsored by the Rushford Area Disaster Alliance for Recovery (RADAR) long-term community recovery non-profit and partner of the Rushford Community Foundation in cooperation with the agencies and programs represented. Thanks to the University of Minnesota Extension and the community volunteers who made the fairs possible. Remember to save this guide for future reference! This is an actual resource guide that was used for the Disaster Recover Resource Fairs held in Rushford, Minnesota, November It appears here for use with related resource, Disaster Recovery Resource Fair: A Strategy to Provide Access and Reduce Barriers to Disaster Program Assistance. For more information on disaster recovery resources available from University of Minnesota Extension, visit For additional resources for families experiencing tough times, visit This material is available in alternative formats upon request. Direct requests to University of Minnesota Extension is an equal opportunity educator and employer.