FEMA assistance for Winnebago County residents with Rockford Disaster Recovery Center opens for those that have July severe storm damage

    FEMA assistance is available to homeowners and renters in the seven designated counties, including Winnebago County, with underinsured or uninsured disaster-related loss from the July 13-16 floods, tornadoes, straight-line winds and severe storms.

    Residents can apply for FEMA assistance online at DisasterAssistance.gov, through the FEMA app, by calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362, or in-person at the Disaster Recovery Center in Rockford. The center is located at the Forest City Church, 1280 S. Alpine Rd., and is open Mondays to Fridays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and closed Sundays.

    The center is staffed by FEMA representatives as well as the state of Illinois and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Residents can get help applying for federal disaster assistance, upload documents, get their questions answered, access other types of help that may be available and learn ways to make their property more disaster resistant.

    Those that have insurance should file a claim as soon as possible. FEMA cannot duplicate benefits for losses covered by insurance. If a policy does not cover all the disaster expenses, the policy holder may be eligible for federal assistance.

    Some types of FEMA grant assistance may include temporary housing assistance, home repair or replacement, and coverage for other disaster-related expenses, such as moving and storage costs, primary vehicle repair or replacement, damaged furniture and appliances (including furnace and HVAC) and childcare costs.

    Survivors don’t need to visit a Disaster Recovery Center to apply for FEMA assistance. To apply without visiting a center, go online to DisasterAssistance.gov, download the FEMA mobile app, or call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. For those that use a relay service such as video relay service, captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA a number for that service when applying.

    After applying for assistance, expect to receive letters and information from FEMA about the application. Read correspondence from FEMA carefully, because additional information or documentation may be requested – this can include an insurance settlement letter, home repair receipts or estimates, proof of homeownership or occupancy and proof of identity. The requested documentation can be submitted in-person at a Disaster Recovery Center, through your DisasterAssistance.gov profile or postal mail.

    Assistance in languages other than English, including American sign language, and translated materials are available at these centers. Disaster Recovery Center locations are chosen for their accessibility, with the goal of reaching as many people as possible. Accessible parking spaces are available at all centers.

More than $1.5M in FEMA assistance approved for Illinois

    FEMA assistance for residents affected topped $1.5 million.

    Here is a snapshot of FEMA disaster assistance as of Sept. 27:

    More than 300 households have been approved for FEMA grant funding totaling $1.5 million, including:

    • $987,000 in housing grants, including short-term rental assistance and home repair costs.

    • $560,000 approved for other essential disaster-related needs, such as expenses related to medical, dental, and lost personal possessions.

    More than 750 home inspections have been completed.

What to expect: Housing inspections

    For residents in Cook, Fulton, Henry, St. Clair, Washington, Will, and Winnebago counties who report they cannot or may not be able to safely live in their home after July 13-16, FEMA may need to perform an inspection of the damaged dwelling.

Home inspections:

    Within 10 days of applying for assistance, residents may receive a call an inspector to schedule an appointment at the address where damage was reported. The inspector’s call may come from an out of state or an “unknown” phone number, and they may ask to verify personally identifiable information by phone.

    FEMA inspectors make several attempts to contact through phone call or text to schedule an appointment. If FEMA is unable to get in touch, residents will be sent a letter indicating the application cannot be processed further – to proceed, residents must call FEMA’s Helpline at 800-621-3362 to confirm contact information and need for assistance.

    When the FEMA inspector makes contact, write down:

    • The inspector’s name

    • Date of call

    • Date and time of appointment

    • Inspector’s telephone number

    If contacted by an inspector, but no one in the household applied for FEMA assistance, ask to withdraw the application and notify FEMA by calling 800-621-3362.

​​​​​​​During inspection:

    A typical inspection takes up to 45 minutes to complete. Inspectors do not determine eligibility for FEMA assistance – they are looking to verify the damage reported on the application. The resident or their designated co-applicant will need to meet with an inspector and provide a photo ID. Residents may invite another individual such as a household member, relative or friend to help communicate with the inspector.

    • If the resident or their co-applicant are unable to meet with an inspector, a third-party can be designated in writing and pre-authorized before the scheduled time and date.

    • A FEMA inspector carries an official photo ID and will never ask for bank information or charge a fee for inspection. If residents suspect an inspector isn’t who they say they are, tell them to leave immediately and call local law enforcement.

    • The inspector will attempt to verify the applicant’s name, address, contact information, insurance coverage and occupancy or ownership status.

    • The inspector will walk through the home to assess the condition of both damaged and non-damaged areas – noting structural damage and completing an inventory of essential personal property (appliances, furniture, etc.).

    • Inspectors will not climb on roofs or enter crawl spaces.

    • Photos may be taken of the interior and exterior of the home during the inspection process.

    • In situations where the home is inaccessible, the inspector may meet with the survivor at another location to verify identity, occupancy and/or ownership.

​​​​​​​After the inspection:

    Information gathered during the inspection is only one of several criteria used by FEMA to determine eligibility for assistance. If residents have questions after their inspection, please call FEMA’s Helpline at 800-621-3362.

    FEMA will mail a decision letter about eligibility for assistance. To receive updates and notifications faster, create an online DisasterAssistance.gov account after applying for FEMA assistance.

Beware of disaster fraud

    Fraudulent activity typically increases after disasters. Con artists may try to get money from residents or ask for personal information to try and steal identities.

    Survivors of the July 13-16 severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding in Cook, Fulton, Henry, St. Clair, Washington, Will and Winnebago counties should be aware that fraud and scams can occur anytime. If a home or personal property was damaged in the recent storms, be careful when giving out personal information.

    Remember that FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and other federal and state disaster workers will never ask for money and never require payment in any form.

Fraudulent applications:

    If a FEMA inspector comes to a resident’s home and they did not apply for assistance, their information may have been used without their knowledge to create a FEMA application. If this happens, inform the inspector that FEMA assistance was not applied for, so they can submit a request to stop further processing of the application.

    If a resident did not apply for assistance but receive a letter from FEMA, call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. The helpline will submit a request to stop any further processing of that application.

Other disaster-related scams:

    FEMA teams, housing inspectors and other officials will be working in areas affected by the summer storms and flooding. Always ask to see I.D. FEMA personnel always have an official identification badge.

    Be careful of unexpected phone calls or visits to a home from people claiming to be FEMA housing inspectors or people claiming they work for FEMA. FEMA inspectors will already have the FEMA application number, but they may ask to verify personally identifiable information by phone. If unsure whether a FEMA call or visit is legitimate, contact the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 to verify.

    Don’t give banking information to a person claiming to be a FEMA housing inspector. FEMA inspectors do not collect or ask to confirm personal financial information.

Take action:

    For those that believe they are the victim of a scam, report it immediately to local police or sheriff’s department.

    If there is knowledge of fraud or scams involving FEMA’s disaster relief operations, report this to FEMA:

    • Email: [email protected]

    • Phone: 866-223-0814

    • Mail: 400 C Street SW Mail Stop 3005, Washington, DC 20472-3005.

    To report and get help recovering from identity theft, visit IdentityTheft.gov.