|  A total of 1,632 people have contacted FEMA for help or information 
			regarding disaster assistance. In addition to FEMA grants for individuals and families, other 
			forms of disaster assistance are provided by partner agencies such 
			as the U.S. Small Business Administration, the American Red Cross 
			and Salvation Army. FEMA often refers survivors to those agencies. 
			Businesses are also referred to the SBA. Other callers may be 
			interested in non-FEMA programs such as disaster unemployment 
			assistance, the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program 
			or legal aid. The following is a snapshot of the 
			disaster recovery effort as of Dec. 10: 
				
				200 households 
				approved for FEMA grants that assist with temporary rentals and 
				personal property loss. 
				$760,124 approved 
				for housing grants, including short-term rental assistance and 
				home repair costs.
				$334,766 approved 
				to cover other essential disaster-related needs such as medical 
				and dental expenses and lost personal possessions.
				329 home 
				inspections completed. 
				226 visits to 
				disaster recovery centers by people affected by the disaster.
				3 disaster recovery centers currently 
				open. 
			 No matter the degree of loss or insurance coverage, survivors are 
			urged to apply for help. They can use any of the following methods:
			 
				
				By phone, call 800-621-FEMA (3362) from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. 
			Assistance is available in most languages. People who are deaf or 
			hard of hearing may call TTY 800-462-7585. 
				Online, go to
				www.DisasterAssistance.gov.
				By tablet or smartphone, use the FEMA app or go to 
				m.fema.gov. 
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			 Storm survivors who register with FEMA and are referred to the 
			Small Business Administration will be contacted with options on how 
			to apply for a low-interest disaster loan. After being contacted by 
			SBA, survivors should complete and submit an application even if 
			they do not plan to accept a loan. It is part of the FEMA grant 
			process and can pave the way for additional disaster assistance. SBA 
			disaster loans are available with interest rates as low as 2.25 
			percent and terms up to 30 years. Complete an online application at 
			https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/. 
			With questions, call the SBA customer service center at 
			800-659-2955. People who are deaf or hard of hearing and use a TTY 
			can call 800-877-8339. For more information, visit 
			www.sba.gov. For the latest information on Illinois' recovery from the Nov. 17 
			storms, visit www.fema.gov/Disaster/4157. Follow FEMA online at 
			twitter.com/femaregion5, 
			facebook.com/FEMA and 
			youtube.com/fema.  
            [Text from file received from
			FEMA 
			Region V]FEMA's mission is to support citizens and first responders to 
			ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain and 
			improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, 
			recover from and mitigate all hazards. Disaster recovery assistance 
			is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, 
			sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you 
			or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA 
			toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). By TTY, call 800-462-7585. The Small Business Administration is the federal government's 
			primary source of funding for the long-term rebuilding of 
			disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, 
			businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations fund 
			repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost 
			or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover 
			uninsured and uncompensated losses and do not duplicate benefits of 
			other agencies or organizations. For information about SBA programs, 
			applicants may call 800-659-2955 or TTY 800-877-8339. 
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