Tornado damage: how to apply for assistance

WESTMORELAND (KSNT) - With families picking up the pieces after a tornado ripped through Westmoreland, these programs could provide the financial assistance needed to make it through.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Department offers single-family housing repair loans and grants in Kansas for families badly impacted by severe weather.

The Section 504 Home Repair program provides loans or grants to very low-income homeowners to remove health and safety hazards. The maximum loan amount is $40,000, the maximum grant amount is $10,000 and they can be combined for a total of $50,000 in assistance.

To be eligible for the program you must be the homeowner and occupy the home, be able to obtain credit elsewhere, have a home that doesn't exceed the very low limit set by the county, and for grants, applicants must be 62 years or older.

To be considered very low income you must earn:

The USDA offers a service where you can check your eligibility by clicking here.

Loans will be offered at a 1% fixed interest rate and termed over 20 years. If the property is sold in less than three years, the grant must be repaid.

To submit your application, contact your local Rural Development office. In Kansas, you can call 785-271-2700 or visit the state office page by clicking here.

For more weather news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.