Help Available To Victims Of Flood Many Idahoans Eligible For Federal Disaster Funds

More than 200 people crowded into Pinehurst Elementary School on Tuesday, some still wearing boots muddy from days of flood cleanup. Now that the waters are receding, many residents are wondering how they can afford to make repairs.

Stan Baldwin spent the day clearing muck from his flooded garage north of Enaville. He still hasn’t been inside his flooded double-wide trailer.

“The refrigerator was 4 inches under water,” he said.

Local officials organized the meeting to assist victims in getting state and federal disaster aid.

“Don’t be ashamed to ask for help,” Shoshone County Commissioner Sherry Krulitz urged residents. “There are people here willing to help. It’s not the time to be proud; there’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

“It’s a case of your taxes coming back to you at a time when you need it,” said Ken Jordan of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

He and other officials outlined available aid: FEMA offers grants and low-interest loans for rebuilding or replacing damaged contents.

The grants, up to $10,000 per family, aren’t based on income. Displaced people also can get two months’ rent money.

The Small Business Administration offers low-interest loans to flood victims who need to rebuild or relocate. Loans for businesses disrupted by the flooding, or for new machinery and equipment are also available.

The Farm Home Administration has low-interest loans available for rebuilding.

Much of the aid stems from President Bill Clinton’s declaring North Idaho a disaster area. Clinton is meeting today with Idaho’s congressional delegation in Boise to discuss the flooding.

Many in the Pinehurst crowd Tuesday were skeptical that they’d get help anytime soon.

“Actions speak louder than words,” said Bob Vidal, a logger who lives on Pine Creek.

Commissioner Krulitz praised the volunteers who’ve helped out so far.

“It’s why we choose to live here,” she said. “Whether there’s a mine fire or a flood, we’re here for each other.”

Elsewhere in North Idaho, rivers and lakes continued to slowly recede. Hayden Lake crested Monday and dropped about a half-inch overnight. Officials there initially feared a dike would give way.

“Provided we don’t get sustained heavy rains, it appears the critical point is past,” said Bob Haynes of the Idaho Department of Water Resources.

Damage estimates were few. Officials in Kootenai and Shoshone counties are waiting for state and federal crews to help with calculations.

“If we did any assessments, we’d be spinning our wheels. They’re going to do their own anyway,” said Shoshone County disaster services coordinator Chuck Herrod. He’s a flood casualty himself - he quit his post, citing communication problems with county officials.

The Idaho Transportation Department estimated $1 million damage to state highways in the Panhandle. County road damage hasn’t been assessed yet.

Idaho 3 remains closed north of St. Maries, the department said. Idaho 6, south of St. Maries is closed to all but local traffic.

Still, Herrod said, most of the people stranded by high waters and road damage in the past week now have ways to get out.

At Lewiston, road workers welded three railroad flatcars together as a temporary bridge for U.S. Highway 12.

Orofino residents found a silver, or rather gold, lining to the flood.

There was a lot of excitement after flecks of gold were spotted glimmering in the street in front of the Ponderosa Restaurant. They were washing off a hillside reportedly owned by U.S. Rep. Helen Chenoweth.

Benewah County dusted itself off, repairing dikes and pumping out flooded fields and neighborhoods. Disaster official George Currier said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is helping repair dikes and bringing in more pumps.

“People want to get home, even though their homes are wet,” Currier said. “We’re hoping to have the water out in three to four days.”

Health officials urged people in most flooded areas to boil drinking water for five minutes.

“I tell people if there’s sediment in the water, it’s been compromised,” said Steve McMillan, of the Panhandle Health District.”

McMillan hadn’t heard of anyone getting sick. The district has chlorination instructions to kill bacteria in wells and water systems.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Graphic: After the flood: how houses are restored

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Flood help Federal Emergency Management Agency - 1-800-462-9029, or 1-800-462-7585, for speech and hearing impaired. Grants and loans for flood victims. Small Business Administration - 1-800-488-5323. Low-interest loans for homeowners, businesses. Farm Home Administration - 667-0833. Red Cross - 664-5414. Food, bedding, clothing, shelter. Panhandle Health District - 667-9513, Kootenai County; 783-0707, Shoshone. Free drinking water tests. - Rich Roesler

The following fields overflowed: BYLINE = Rich Roesler Staff writer Staff writers Julie Titone and Ken Olsen contributed to this report.