Flood grants available for appliances, building materials

Talk about it

More...

• Grant application

For many Carlton County residents whose homes were damaged in the June floods, the months since then have been a struggle. Insurance companies may have denied them; the Federal Emergency Management Agency certainly turned them away.

Jill Hatfield, executive director of Volunteer Services of Carlton County, wants people to know there is at least one easy option: apply for a $500 grant from the Flood Relief Fund to be used toward appliances or building materials (or for reimbursement for such items, with a receipt).

“We know people are filling out a lot of paperwork, so we tried to keep it simple,” Hatfield said. “All they have to do is fill out this one page application, prove they live at that address [with a utility bill or photo identification] and bring in a letter showing what the insurance company decided. Even if they got coverage, it doesn’t mean they won’t get a grant [too].”

Funds for the grants came from personal and business donations after the flooding.

“We had almost $86,000 come in so far,” Hatfield said, noting that fundraisers such as the Flood the Lot event at the Jack in Cloquet also helped boost that short-term flood recovery account. Because there is still money in the account, the deadline for applications has been extended to Oct. 15 or until the funds are expended, whichever comes first. At the same time, the county and other response groups are completing the transition from short-term to long-term flood response.

The Community Advisory Committee meets every Wednesday to review the applications, Hatfield said, noting that the checks usually go out within a week of the grant application submission.

Call 218-879-9238 for more information. Residents can pick up and drop off the application at the VSCC office at 1219 14th St., Ste. D, Cloquet, or find a form attached to this story online at www.pinejournal.com.

Tags: flood 2012, carlton county, news