WATERLOO -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency has doled more than $11 million in housing and other grant assistance so far to Black Hawk County's flood and tornado victims.

And the number is expected to continue rising.

"We have a lot of people in the community that are still dealing with the effects," said Barbara Berquam, the county's Emergency Management Agency coordinator.

Forty more people registered with FEMA over the past weekend, more than six weeks after floods ravaged the area, to bring Black Hawk County's total registration to more than 4,100, she said.

A FEMA report through July 18 showed those residents were in line for more than $9.8 million in temporary housing and home repairs, while another $1.3 million more has been approved for other needs, such as medical and dental expenses. Some 67 property owners had received the maximum $28,800 grant.

Only Linn County and its county seat of Cedar Rapids received more FEMA grant dollars -- just under $60 million -- than Black Hawk.

The numbers do not include any insurance payments or recovery loans to private property owners and do not reflect any assistance to local governments, which are expected to be provided later.

The report was released at a Thursday news conference where federal, state and local government leaders addressed lingering questions about the disaster recovery effort.

Residents in Iowa's 63 counties affected by the historic disaster still have until Sept. 29 to register with FEMA for assistance. They can register by calling (800) 621-3362 or online at www.fema.gov. Many applicants will receive a loan application from the U.S. Small Business Administration, which can provide low-interest loans to homeowners, renters or businesses to help them cover gaps in insurance or other assistance.

"It's important folks fill out that (SBA) packet and turn it back in," said Nancy Casper, FEMA Region 1 field office branch director, noting those who apply are not required to accept a loan but could find themselves ineligible for future assistance if they fail to respond.

The SBA's Roger Busch said he's hearing many businesses are not applying for the loans because they incorrectly assume they won't be eligible for the lower 4 percent interest rate being offered.

"There's been about 300 loans for businesses that have been approved and only about 11 of them have been at the higher (8 percent) rate," he said.

Many of the residents in limbo, attempting to determine whether to rebuild their flood-damaged home or wait for a possible buyout program, will need to exercise patience.

Black Hawk County and its cities continue to seek information from residents interested in buyouts, but it could be 2009 before any money is available. And Bret Voorhees, bureau chief for Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management, said there likely won't be enough mitigation money from FEMA to fund all of the property acquisitions proposed by various communities.

"It's a competitive process," Voorhees said.

FEMA's Casper said the agency potentially will help people with housing needs for up to 18 months, provided they meet eligibility requirements. While that's probably enough time to get someone through the buyout decision process, Casper said that's not the desired choice.

"We strongly encourage them to repair their home to make it habitable," she said.

Residents counting on a buyout could potentially burn through the maximum $28,800 FEMA grant only to be left homeless if a buyout isn't approved.

Meanwhile, FEMA manufactured homes could be available soon in Black Hawk County, although Casper said the agency prefers getting displaced residents into existing housing stock.

"It's really good for the local community if we put people into available housing recourses," she said, noting the trailers are "a last resort."

Cedar Falls Mayor Jon Crews said about 52 lots have been identified for the trailers in the county, including 45 in existing mobile home parks in Waterloo and seven in Cedar Falls. Flood or tornado victims needing a trailer should call FEMA's housing hotline at 1-866-274-4392.

Crews, Waterloo Mayor Tim Hurley and county Board of Supervisors chairman John Miller were all encouraging their residents to return surveys and questionnaires related to their flood damage and potential buyout interest. Waterloo and Black Hawk County have ended their free roadside flood debris collection, and Cedar Falls soon will be providing it only on a call-in basis.

Still, Hurley said life must continue, and it's important for those outside of the area -- especially visitors and investors -- to understand the Cedar Valley is back in business despite the local governments' new challenges to deal with those still struggling with recovery.

"There's still people suffering whose lives will never be back to normal," he said. "But we are not Katrina. We are not sitting here under 8 feet of water."

Contact Tim Jamison at (319) 291-1577 or tim.jamison@wcfcourier.com.