The Federal Emergency Management Agency says anyone who had a car damaged or destroyed in counties affected by the November 17th tornadoes may be eligible for disaster assistance.
Counties include Champaign, Douglas, Fayette, Jasper, and Vermilion.
FEMA says those who may be eligible also include people who were working or visiting the affected counties during the storms.
• Only those who maintain at least liability insurance will be considered to receive federal disaster assistance to repair or replace their car. Liability coverage is the minimum insurance requirement for Illinois drivers. Liability insurance policies do not cover storm-related damage to their car. Survivors who register must submit proof to FEMA that they maintain liability coverage to be considered for federal disaster assistance to repair or replace their car.
• Survivors who have a comprehensive policy should first file a claim with their insurance company. Comprehensive policies usually pay for storm-related damages to a car. However, federal disaster assistance may help fill in the gaps for those whose comprehensive insurance coverage does not pay for any or all storm-related damage costs.
• Survivors need to return a completed Small Business Administration disaster-loan application. After registering with FEMA, the SBA will contact many survivors concerning loan applications. It’s important for survivors to submit their application. Homeowners and renters may be eligible to borrow up to $40,000 to repair or replace personal property, including automobiles damaged or destroyed in the disaster.
• FEMA grants to repair or replace a car must clear the SBA loan process. A survivor may receive a grant from FEMA to repair or replace their car if insurance is insufficient and they were declined for SBA loan home loan. Grants do not need to be repaid.
• Keep documents. Federal disaster assistance is reimbursed to survivors only if their car had damage during the Nov. 17 tornadoes. Survivors must submit an itemized document that shows damage to the car is storm-related and a receipt, estimate or verifiable bill of the repair or replacement costs.
Register with FEMA online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 800-462-7585, or register with a smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov.