Wichita, KS - Only one week remains for homeowners, renters and business owners affected by the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding from May 4 to June 1 to apply for federal disaster assistance, said officials at the Kansas Division of Emergency Management (KDEM) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). To date, 4,290 residents in the 24 approved counties have applied for assistance and $45.2 million in federal grants and low-interest loans have been approved.

Residents who suffered damage between May 4-June 1 and live in any of the following counties should call and register for assistance by August 6. The 24 counties affected are: Barton, Clay, Cloud, Comanche, Dickinson, Edwards, Ellsworth, Kiowa, Leavenworth, Lyon, McPherson, Osage, Osborne, Ottawa, Phillips, Pottawatomie, Pratt, Reno, Rice, Riley, Saline, Shawnee, Smith and Stafford

August 6 is the final day to register; call toll free, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). The toll-free number is operational Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., CDT. Those with speech or hearing impairment can call TTY 1-800- 462-7585. Non-English speaking residents can be accommodated in up to 173 languages. Individuals can also register online at the FEMA website www.fema.gov. Representatives from FEMA and SBA are available to answer questions at the Disaster Recovery Centers in Kiowa, Reno and Saline counties.

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) representatives are at all Disaster Recovery Center locations to explain how SBA low-interest disaster loans can help homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations pay for their disaster losses. They also will meet with applicants one-on-one and assist them in filling out their loan applications. Anyone not able to visit a center should call 1-800-659-2955 for SBA assistance or visit the website at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.

FEMA coordinates the federal government’s role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, economic status or retaliation. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, you should call FEMA toll-free at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or contact your State Office of Equal Rights. If you are suspicious of any abuse of FEMA programs, please contact the Fraud hotline at 1-800-323-8603.

SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit 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.