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FEMA Helps Victims of Spring Floods

By Beacon Staff

The water may have receded around Randy and Debi Beavers’ home in Creston but the damage, and questions, remain.

Earlier this summer, rain and a massive snowpack filled the state’s rivers and streams leading to historic flooding during the month of June. In response, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has been establishing temporary disaster recovery centers across the state, including in Kalispell.

On Sept. 1, the Beavers went to the information center housed at the Flathead County Office of Emergency Services to ask questions about what help was available to them. For weeks groundwater came up through a small pond near their house and, at its peak, was 11 inches deep in their basement. Their son Ryan’s home was also flooded and the entire first floor and most of the second floor now has water damage.

Neither family has moved back into their homes.

“We’re just trying to find out if we can get help,” Debi said. “We don’t even know if we should repair it.”

That’s information they hoped to gather at the information center, which according to FEMA Public Information Officer Chris McKniff will be open in Kalispell until Sept. 8.

Since the floodwaters have receded, McKniff said there have been 2,300 registrations statewide, all looking for assistance to cover things such as temporary housing, transportation and medical expenses. In that time, $4.5 million has been distributed in the state. McKniff said upon registration and review of the damage, people can receive money within 36 hours.

Earlier in the summer, Montana was declared a disaster area by the federal government, which provided funding for the state and local governments to repairs roads, buildings and infrastructure. On July 26 there was a presidential disaster declaration for individual assistance, which allowed FEMA to begin helping individual citizens and small businesses. According to McKniff, Flathead County was initially left out of the declaration, but was added in late August upon review of the damage in Northwest Montana.

McKniff said people can either register by phone, online or in person at the information center. Montanans have until Sept. 26 to register.

“If you don’t register with us we don’t know who you are and if you’ve suffered,” he said. “We’re making sure no one falls through the cracks or gets left behind, because assistance is available.”

At the information center people can fill out the FEMA assistance applications, get more information about how to clean and repair their home and apply for a loan through the U.S. Small Business Administration for up to $200,000. Ben Raju, public information officer for the Small Business Administration, said the low interest rate loans can supplement payout from insurance, but not duplicate it. Raju also said the administration can work with people who are uninsured.

“We know people have lost things in a disaster (like this), but the main thing is people need to come in and talk with us,” he said.

Which is what the Beavers’ did last week, and as they walked out of the conference room, they were hoping they had the tools to move on.

“It was an experience you don’t want to have to live too many times,” Randy said.

The FEMA disaster recovery center is located at the Flathead County Office of Emergency Services at 625 Timberwolf Parkway. It is open until Sept. 8. Even after the center has closed, people can still register with FEMA until Sept. 26 by calling 1-800-621-3362 or by going online at www.disasterassistance.gov.