LOS ANGELES COUNTY : Applications for Quake Aid Top 400,000 Mark
The record number of applications received for local, state and federal disaster assistance programs in the wake of the Northridge earthquake has topped the 400,000 mark, it was announced Wednesday.
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the previous record for the most applications for assistance in a single U.S. disaster was 304,000 after Hurricane Hugo in 1989. To date, the Jan. 17 earthquake has generated 403,492 applications.
FEMA has issued 121,000 checks totaling more than $330 million in grants for temporary housing and emergency repairs. More than $2.5 million has been provided through the California State Individual and Family Grant program, which provides emergency funds to people who are not adequately covered by insurance or other aid programs.
The Small Business Administration has approved low-interest disaster loans totaling nearly $216 million.
Meanwhile, because of the high volume of requests for help, Friday’s application deadline for the federal and state Mobile Home Minimal Repair Program has been waived. The sign-up period was extended until further notice. The program applies to mobile-home owners whose units were damaged or destroyed by the quake or its aftershocks. Call (800) 887-4253 for English assistance or (800) 997-4253 for Spanish.
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