Flood application deadline is extended

Salt River flood victims may be a step closer to getting help.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency said it’s extending the application deadline to Sept. 10 for Mississippi River flood victims “due to a pending request...for additional FEMA aid.”
The original closing date was Aug. 27. FEMA’s action does not affect flood victims in Illinois, where the registration deadline was Aug. 25.
Susie Stonner, a spokeswoman for the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency, said the “pending request” mentioned by FEMA includes the Salt River disaster.
“The request is in Washington,” Stonner said Thursday. “We have not heard anything. We’re just waiting.”
One official, who asked not to be identified, likened the deadline extension to “keeping the tent up so they can stick another camel under it.”
For its part, FEMA would not offer specifics.
“The State Emergency Management Agency and FEMA are keeping all of their options open,” said FEMA spokesman Kerry Sullivan, who declined to elaborate.
The Salt River stretches more than 60 miles through Monroe, Ralls and Pike counties. It flooded for almost two weeks starting in late July after heavy rains forced the Army Corps of Engineers to increase outflow from a dam at Mark Twain Lake. An estimated 80 families were affected.
On Aug. 6, Gov. Matt Blunt asked President George Bush to add Salt River flooding to the declaration for the Mississippi River or issue a new declaration.
State Rep. Rachel Bringer, D-6, of Palmyra, said she remains disappointed that a declaration hasn’t already been issued and renewed her call for prompt action.
“They need to let people know that the Salt River is included,” Bringer said. “We don’t want bureaucracy to get in the way of helping people.”
U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof, R-9, of Columbia, echoed Bringer’s comments and said he will continue seeking a “quick determination” on the Salt River request.
“As I’ve said before, I agree with those who say this process has dragged on far beyond an acceptable point,” Hulshof said in a statement. “Extending the period to apply for disaster-related relief does help some in the region, but we have too many of our friends and neighbors who are struggling and yet unable to rebuild their lives following this summer’s devastating storms and floods.”
Monroe County estimates its damages at more than $4 million.
“We had assumed a declaration was pending,” said Presiding County Commissioner Donald Simpson. “We were worried that because it was taking so long, there was something wrong with it. It’s good news that it’s moving along.”
The deadline extension did not affect Wednesday’s closing of the disaster recovery center at the Winfield-Foley fire station in Lincoln County. It was the last remaining FEMA site in Northeast Missouri.
The Small Business Administration will keep an office open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays through Sept. 11, but is only taking completed applications.
In Missouri, FEMA has had 1,716 requests for help and issued $3.42 million in individual assistance.
Lincoln County has 357 applicants who received just over $1 million. The next-highest total was in Pike County, with 186 applicants and almost $306,000 dispersed.
Marion County had 135 applicants and $282,373 in payouts. The numbers were 37 and $75,603 in Ralls County and 88 and $129,690 in Lewis County.
In Illinois, more than $15.4 million was issued to 3,303 recipients. In Adams County, there were 127 applicants and more than $281,000 distributed. Figures were not available for Pike County.