Flood aid application deadline approaching

The 2008 Flood Recovery Program (FRP) is well underway, repairing homes and restoring hope to hundreds of Wisconsinites across the 30 counties declared a disaster area from the floods and storms during the summer of 2008.

More than 500 homeowners are in the process of being helped. However, all new applications must be filed by June 15 in order to be completed before the program ends on Sept. 30, 2010.

According to Steve Zekoff, project director for the FRP, “Because of the success of the program, the limit on program funds, and the Sept. 30 deadline, we won’t be able to accept any new applications from homeowners after June 15, 2010. All cases must be completed and monies paid out to vendors by Sept. 30, 2010. It takes several weeks to process cases, award funding, establish vendor contracts, and have completed work verified. All construction needs to be completed by Sept. 1. Therefore, we strongly urge all homeowners who still have unmet needs from the floods and storms of 2008 to contact us immediately.”

Homeowners can find out more about the program and fill out an application at the FRP Web site www.2008floodrecovery.com. There is also a short video about the Program on the Web site. Homeowners may also call 2-1-1 or 1-877-947-2211 to talk to a call center representative, who will answer questions and refer them to a case manager if the homeowner appears to be eligible for assistance.

The 2008 Flood Recovery Program is funded by a Federal Social Services Block Grant through the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. The Wisconsin Conference of The United Methodist Church was chosen to administer the funds and program because of their outreach capabilities and collaboration with Lutheran Social Services Project Recovery and 20 other organizations that are also part of WIVOAD (Wisconsin Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters).