(Radio Iowa) – The Federal Emergency Management Agency conducted about 73-hundred inspections of Iowa homes that were damaged by the derecho last August and concluded about 42 percent were eligible for FEMA’s individual assistance program. John Mills is a spokesman for FEMA.

“FEMA has approved nearly 3100 households and already provided more than $11 million in individual assistance grants,” he says. “That money is helping survivors with basic home repairs, temporary rental assistance. We’re helping with lodging reimbursement and other needs.” The Washington Post is reporting 19-thousand Iowans who applied last year for FEMA’s individual assistance program got notices that they were not eligible.

“Right after the derecho hit and the disaster was declared, FEMA began accepting disaster assistance applications and people asked for assistance,” Mills says. “We don’t want people to rule themselves out, so when in doubt, we encourage people to apply for assistance.” Mills says a home owner or renter is not eligible for the program if the property is covered by insurance or they’re received assistance from other government agencies or charities. In addition, the residence must also be declared uninhabitable.

A state report issued last fall indicated more than 200-thousand private insurance claims had been filed by derecho victims and insurance payouts had topped one-point-six BILLION by last November. Mills says the U.S. Small Business Administration has issued 27 million in disaster loans to businesses as well as homeowners and renters hit by the derecho. Some of those loans were to help with tree removal expenses on private property.