By STEVE EIGHINGER

Herald-Whig Staff Writer

The last of the 18 disaster relief centers in western Illinois closed last week as the region continues the recovery process from June and July flooding.

Those still needing assistance are urged to apply by Aug. 25, according to Susan Solomon, a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) public information officer based in Moline.

"It is important for disaster victims in the designated counties to know that even though these sites have closed, assistance is still available," Solomon said.

Solomon said 2,864 individuals from 18 Illinois counties designated as disaster sites have applied for assistance, including 171 from Hancock County and 122 from Adams County. More than 500 of those applicants have been business owners.

If further assistance or information from FEMA is needed, those affected should call (202) 870-8897, Solomon said.

"People continue to apply every day," Solomon said.

Another contact that may be able to provide assistance and/or information is communications specialist Jack Camp of the Small Business Administration (SBA) at (404) 387-2172.

FEMA assistance and information is also available at (800)-621-3362.

FEMA and the SBA have approved $11.8 million in federal disaster assistance grants and loans for areas in western Illinois that were affected by the floodwaters of the Mississippi River.

"Individual assistance for homeowners and renters can include grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses not met by insurance or other assistance programs," Solomon said.

In addition, low-interest loans from the SBA are available to cover residential and business losses not fully compensated by insurance. Renters, homeowners and business owners in disaster-declared counties are eligible to apply for these low-interest loans.

The SBA has launched an online disaster loan application process at the https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/ Web site.

"This online application provides a convenient alternative for disaster victims as they take their first steps toward rebuilding after a disaster," said Jovita Carranza, acting administrator for the SBA.

The state of Illinois continues to offer its flood recovery assistance hotline at (866)-848-2067. The toll free number is not an emergency number.

"(The hotline) has been established to link people affected by floods to state assistance programs," Solomon said.

The hotline operates daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during regular business days.

Web sites that are designed to provide disaster recovery assistance for Illinois residents include www.fema.gov, www.floodsmart.gov and www.ready.illinois.gov.

-- seighinger@whig.com/221-3377