Federal Flood Relief Is on Its Way to New England

(NECN: Alysha Palumbo, Billerica, MA) - Last month's historic rain storms andflooding left Patti Parker's Wilmington, Massachusetts home a mess.


Parker said, "All the insulation is going to have to be taken out, I don't know if the walls are going to have to come down, I don't know."
It's taken several fans and three sump pumps to somewhat dry out Parker's basement that had just been finished in January.
But it's going to take a lot of work and money to completely clean it up.
"Trying to dry stuff out so that we can have someone come and cut up the rug and take it out of here and then we have to get a dumpster and throw all the stuff out because it's ruined," said Parker.
Parker was one of many people throughout the flood-ravaged areas of New England who came out to one of FEMA's disaster recovery centers to see if she could get federal assistance.
Organizers are encouraging everyone affected by the flooding to seek assistance before it runs out May 28th.
Peter Judge with MEMA said, "I think some people feel they've cleaned up and they've moved on and so I'm not concerned, I want to forget about it but reality is a lot of people who think they maybe aren't qualified, aren't eligible for assistance should really register and find out for themselves."
Kevin Galvin with FEMA said, "If you have insurance you should apply because a lot of times insurance doesn't cover all of your damages."
Despite what the name suggests, the Small Business Administration cannot only help both small and large businesses, but renters and homeowners too.
Kathy Cook with USSBA DisasterAssistancesaid, "Most homeowners that I have been talking to did not have flood insurance or did not have a sewer backup plan on their homeowner's policy, so these people with uninsured losses are eligible for low interest loans."
Patti Parker hopes she'll be able to get one of those low interest loans to help pay for the contractor work and the dumpster to throw away everything ruined in the flooding.
Parker said, "It would mean that we could clean up this mess and put it back to where it was."

People who need disaster relief assistance may call FEMA by phone: (800) 621-FEMA or apply online: www.disasterassistance.gov.

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