Red River Floods of 2009

Deadline looms for federal flood assistance

by Elizabeth Baier, Minnesota Public Radio

St. Paul, Minn. — Residents of the Fargo-Moorhead area have until June 9 to apply for federal assistance for damaged property from the Red River flooding earlier this year.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency grants can go toward uninsured home repairs, temporary housing and other disaster-related expenses.

The Small Business Administration also offers disaster assistance loans for homeowners, renters and businesses that can be used for damages that were not covered by insurance.

Loans range from $40,000 for renters to as much as $2 million for businesses. Some FEMA grants require applicants fill out SBA loan applications, according to Richard Daigle, an SBA spokesman.

"By them applying for the SBA loan, it could potentially make them eligible for very valuable grant assistance from other FEMA or state sources," Daigle said. "So by not applying for the SBA loan, they could potentially be closing the door on other assistance that could be very valuable in the recovery process."

So far, more than $4.5 million has gone out to those affected in the Red River Valley.

The SBA has set up an office at the Higher Education Community Center, 1110 14 St. S., where people can submit their applications.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)