Aid numbers updated

BISMARCK (AP) — The state Emergency Services Department’s final report on the impact of 2009 spring floods and other severe weather in North Dakota says 7,357 people have applied for federal disaster aid and more than $19 million has been approved. And the bills are still coming in.

Department spokeswoman Cecily Fong said the report is considered final because the response phase is over and the state is “well into recovery.” Agencies are still tallying their costs.

So far, the report says:

— The government paid about $7.7 million in individual aid to homeowners and about $14.7 million in low-interest Small Business Administration loans. About $1.1 million went for disaster unemployment assistance.

The report said there were 1,376 federal flood insurance claims for a total of about $13 million. It said the number of policyholders went up more than 700 percent from the previous year.

Officials said about $18 million in state money has been approved for infrastructure repair projects, out of an anticipated $36.8 million.

Livestock losses have been estimated at about $30 million, including some 90,000 cattle.

Tags: north dakota, news, flood, aid, numbers