People who have been affected by this summer's massive flooding along the Missouri River can get free cleanup kits from the American Red Cross. The cleanup kits are being distributed at the Red Cross' offices in Omaha and Council Bluffs during regular business hours. Officials say that even though some people haven't been able to visit their homes yet because floodwaters are still receding, they want to hand out the kits now so people will be prepared. The Red Cross asks anyone who wants a kit to bring a photo ID and a piece of mail to verify their residence.

The deadline is approaching for some homeowners and businesses who suffered losses during the flooding along the Missouri River to file claims. Officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency regional office in Kansas City, Mo., say flood insurance policy holders have 120 days from the date of the damage to file a claim and submit a "Proof of Loss'' statement. For some, that could be as soon as Thursday. FEMA officials say policy holders should call their insurance agent to open a claim. The deadline is normally 60 days from the date of damage but it was extended to 120 days this year. FEMA Administrator Beth Freeman says officials are concerned that some people have not been able to inspect their properties and may not know of the upcoming deadlines.

Crews are assessing damage to Iowa highways and beginning repairs now that the Missouri River has dropped to lower levels after a summer of flooding. Sections of the Interstates 29 and 680 are largely rubble, leaving workers with a daunting number of repairs and little time as winter approaches. Officials say they'll fix as many roads as possible this fall and hope to have at least single lanes open on damaged stretches of interstate by December, but some work will have to wait until next year. Iowa Department of Transportation spokeswoman Dena Gray-Fisher says in some spots, "there isn't any road left. You've got to start from scratch.''

Gray-Fisher says a contract for bids will go out Friday to rebuild a badly damaged three-mile stretch of I-680.

Iowa businesses along the Missouri River are being asked to report flood damage as the state gathers more information to appeal a decision by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to reject flood aid. FEMA notified the state in early August that activation of the Federal Individual Assistance Program was denied for five counties _ Fremont, Harrison, Monona, Pottawattamie and Woodbury.

The program helps individuals and businesses with grants and loans. FEMA earlier this month extended Iowa's request for more time to appeal. The new deadline is Oct. 7th. Iowa expects more and more damage will surface as the flood waters continue to fall.

Those still hoping to hit the trail around Bellevue this year are out of luck.  The Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District says the entire five-mile length of the Bellevue Loop Trail will remain closed for the rest of 2011.

The trail runs south from Haworth Park, then west along the Papillion Creek and is atop a natural resource district levee. The district says considerable Missouri River flood cleanup, silt removal and minor levee repairs will make it unsafe for trail users.

Iowa transportation officials have announced plans to get started on rebuilding a flood-damaged Interstate 680 in Pottawattamie County. 

The Iowa Department of Transportation say a single contract will be awarded for work on the roads, which have been closed since June. The agency says Tuesday that an emergency letting is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 21. A meeting on the project will be held later this week with contractors. The agency says the plan is to get the road rebuilt quickly and traffic flowing again.

LINCOLN, Neb. - After registering with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), disaster survivors receive a letter concerning the status of their application. The letter may not be the final word on whether or how much disaster assistance an applicant will receive.

They also may receive a letter from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). It will explain the next action to take to complete the loan, or to contact FEMA for other potential assistance.

Many FEMA applicants will receive a disaster loan application from SBA, which should be returned as soon as possible so that their recovery process can continue. Applicants for disaster assistance may qualify for temporary housing or home repair grants from FEMA or qualify for an SBA disaster loan for home repairs.

The primary federal government source of disaster assistance is the SBA disaster housing loan, available for up to $200,000, of uncompensated physical damage, which may be enough to cover the full cost of repair or replacement.

Loss of essential personal property such as clothing, furniture, appliances and vehicles is handled differently. An SBA personal property disaster loan is the primary source for uninsured personal property losses. Amounts up to $40,000 of uncompensated loss are available.

Renters also are eligible for up to $40,000 in SBA loans to cover their uncompensated losses of personal property.

Applicants who do not qualify for an SBA loan may be referred back to FEMA's Other Needs Assistance program where an additional grant may be available.

It is important for applicants to understand that information they provide when completing an SBA disaster loan application is used in determining what categories of assistance are available for them. Even if the applicant doesn't intend to accept an SBA loan, the information in the application is needed to qualify them for FEMA grants.

Insurance coverage, or the lack of coverage, is another critical determinant in FEMA assistance. The federal government cannot pay for losses covered by insurance. One common reason that applicants receive letters from FEMA is to request further insurance information. It may be necessary to provide copies of any policies that are held.

But just because an applicant has insurance doesn't mean they won't also qualify for FEMA help. Their application will remain open for a year in case they discover that their insurance does not cover all of their loss.

Other common reasons for letters include insufficient proof of ownership or occupancy, lack of evidence that that property was the primary residence at the time of the disaster or failure to sign essential documents.

SBA applicants may receive a letter notifying them of loan withdrawal or decline. They should read the letter carefully because it contains details needed to continue processing or appeal a decline.

If any information in a letter from FEMA or the SBA is unclear, the recipient should immediately call the appropriate helpline for an explanation. The FEMA helpline is 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 800-462-7585. SBA's Customer Service Center is 800-659-2955.

FEMA and SBA representatives also will be found at Disaster Recovery Centers. They are usually able to explain the current status of a person's application.

Iowa transportation officials say barriers that protected Interstate 29 near Blencoe from flooding along the Missouri River will be coming down. Officials say a contractor will begin removing them on Monday because the river continues to fall and they're no longer needed. The barriers, called TrapBags, are filled with rock. The Iowa Department of Transportation says the work involves cutting open the bags to release the rock, and then loading and hauling the rock and bags away. The project, which will cost over $160,000, is expected to last until Sept. 30. Northbound traffic will be rerouted for about 10 miles from the Blencoe interchange to a Monona County highway to Iowa Highway 175 and then back to I-29 at Onawa.

LINCOLN, Neb. - A Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) operated by the state of Nebraska, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), is scheduled to re-open at 1 p.m. Thursday in Douglas County to assist those affected by recent flooding.  

The DRC will be at the Omaha-Douglas Civic Center, 1819 Farnam St., Omaha, NE 68183, for three days:

·      Thursday, Sept. 8, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

·      Friday, Sept. 9, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

·      Saturday, Sept.10, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Counties designated for assistance to individuals are Boyd, Burt, Cass, Dakota, Dixon, Douglas, Knox, Sarpy and Washington. Flood survivors may visit any DRC location for assistance. Future DRC locations will be announced as they are scheduled.

Before visiting a center, people with flood-related losses should register with FEMA even if they have applied for assistance with the USDA, filed a claim with the U.S. Corps of Engineers, received assistance from local voluntary agencies, or have called the NEMA flood hotline to report their damage.

Register with FEMA by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov. Help is available in most languages. Those with speech or hearing disability may call (TTY) 800-462-7585. Persons affected by the floods also may apply for federal assistance through a web-enabled mobile device or smartphone. Visit m.fema.gov and follow the link to "apply online for federal assistance."

Have the following information ready when you call to register:

Social Security number
Current and pre-disaster address
Description of  losses caused by disaster
Contact information where FEMA can reach you
Total household income
Insurance information
Banking information (including account number if you want direct fund deposits)

The Disaster Recovery Centers are staffed by experts from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) providing loan information for individuals, renters and businesses, as well as other agencies. They will explain disaster assistance programs and help flood survivors.
For small businesses, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster.  EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any property damage.

SBA applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA's secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Disaster loan information and application forms are also available from SBA's Customer Service Center by calling SBA toll-free at 800-659-2955, or (TTY) 800 -877-8339, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA's Web site at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.