Union County residents now eligible for FEMA following presidential disaster declaration

NORTH SIOUX CITY, S.D. (KCAU) – After two months of waiting, Union County is now officially eligible for FEMA’s individual assistance , and the residents of North Sioux City and McCook Lake are ready to start the next step of recovery.

“I saw it last night declared, it was just the biggest sigh of relief knowing that we’re going to get something,” North Sioux City resident Darcey Spates said. “FEMA is at least going to come here and do something to help us.”

“I don’t know why it took so long for them to do this because people need help now,” North Sioux City resident Ann Faulk said. “There’s people that don’t even have a house. I’m lucky, I have my house, but there’s a lot of them that don’t.”

Now that the wait is over, flood-impacted North Sioux City residents are ready to receive some federal relief.

“We’re just hoping to get funds to start over, to move on, to start a new life. That’s where we’re at in the situation,” Spates said. “I’m just praying that this can really help my neighbors who are able to rebuild. That they can be compensated to do so, to rebuild their homes and carry on with their lives.”

Those that have begun reconstruction on their homes are encouraged to apply, as the repairs will not affect what assistance they can receive.

“We just tell them again to keep all their receipts, document everything,” Tony Mayne with FEMA said. “We understand that everyone’s recovery from this flooding disaster will be different. We recommend that the survivors in those counties apply for assistance through FEMA as soon as possible.”

Now that the disaster declaration wait is over, the next step may require even more patience.

“There’s no real time frame when people will receive that FEMA assistance,” Mayne said. “The first step is applying for assistance and getting all that proper information that FEMA will need for their application, because not having proper documentation is one of the big factors that delays a survivor’s assistance in a timely manner.”

To apply for FEMA aid, call 800-621-3362 or click here .

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