Story posted Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Disaster Grants Still Available To Residents
Cook County has $10.3 million in disaster grants available to pay expenses related to heavy storms in September 2008. The money is still available through Cook County for some residents.
Niles officials are assisting residents to apply for the Cook County Disaster Grants (CCDG) if their homes still have damage or mold from the floods that has not been repaired.
Grants might also cover payment for health care costs related to the 2008 flood or other continuing "hardships" related to expenses paid at the time of the flood, said Cook County Disaster Grant Project Manager Barry Croall.
What would not be covered is reimbursement for work already completed.
"We can't reimburse money already spent but if because of those expenses people are caused a hardship we can assist," said Croall.
Cook County officials are working to schedule a "flood victim day" in Des Plaines in late March in which county officials would be on hand to answer questions about the grants and help complete applications.
Niles village workers who might enter homes in the course of their work have been told to lookout for possible mold damage that could have been from storms and inform residents of the available grants.
Assistant Village Manager Steve Vinezeano said mold might even exist in some homes where basements were redone and mold caused by the floods was not completely removed.
Prior Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) contacts will not qualify or disqualify residents for the CCDG, however, residents who have a FEMA ID number should submit it as it would help process the application, Vinezeano said.
Though Niles officials are actively encouraging residents who might have been affected by the rains to apply for the CCDG, grants are open to all residents of Cook County.
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