Keweenaw Report Your Source for Local News and Sports
Houghton County residents and business owners who experienced flood damage from Sunday’s storm have little time remaining in which to file reports about their losses to assist local officials in obtaining federal disaster assistance.
Houghton County officials must turn in completed damage and estimated cost figures to the state by 5:00 Friday, June 22nd. Home and business owners can submit their data as quickly as possible by calling 2-1-1 immediately. That information will be included in the county’s report.
Houghton County Administrator Eric Forsberg said that this deadline is only for the figures needed to qualify for disaster assistance by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Failure to report damage now does not necessarily eliminate property owners from potential assistance later on. Forsberg emphasized, however, that each report made now helps the chance that our area will meet the federal standard for disaster aid.
If your home was visited personally by a damage assessment team, you do not need to call – the county already has the data it needs.
The 2-1-1 staff will ask for your name, the address of the damage, your phone number, a specific description of the damage (structure, landscape, items, etc.), and the estimated cost for repair or replacement. If you don’t yet know the cost, call anyway. The process is easy, and takes little time.
Qualifying damage includes such things as flood damage to structures (including outbuildings); damaged appliances such as washers, dryers, water heaters and furnaces; and washed out driveways and private roads. Costs related to clean-up may also qualify, including the cost of pumping out water, even if other damage was minimal. Even if you rectified the situation yourself, please report the damage.
The State of Michigan will evaluate our submission on Monday, and Federal Emergency Management Agency officials are scheduled to tour the area July 2nd or 3rd.
