The Federal Emergency Management Agency coordinates the federal government's role in responding to and recovering from domestic disasters, such as the floods that hit Wisconsin last month. Here are some answers to commonly asked questions about FEMA financial eligibility for individuals:

Q: How do I know if I'm eligible for FEMA disaster assistance?

A: First, you must live in an area that has been designated a federal disaster area by the president. To date, residents in 29 Wisconsin counties are eligible: Adams, Calumet, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, La Crosse, Manitowoc, Marquette, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Sheboygan, Vernon, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha and Winnebago.

Q: How involved is the application process?

A: If you have flood damage to your home or possessions, you should register with FEMA by either calling 1-800-621-3362 (TTY: 1-800-462-7585 for the speech or hearing impaired) or going online at www.fema.gov. This is the first step in applying.

On the phone, a live operator will walk you through the process, which usually takes 20-30 minutes, said Hannah Vick, a FEMA spokeswoman. Initially, the phone lines were open 24 hours. Last week, FEMA reduced the hours to 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week.

At www.fema.gov, screens will prompt applicants. Online registration operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Q: What if I'm not sure my damage is severe enough to warrant a claim?

A: Register anyway. It gets you into the FEMA pipeline with a customer ID number but doesn't obligate you further, Vick said. "You don't want to disqualify yourself for assistance later on."

Registering with FEMA triggers an on-site inspection, usually within seven to 10 days. Inspectors call flood victims independently and set up visits. About 10 days after an inspection, FEMA decides whether the victim qualifies for assistance.

Q: What does FEMA cover?

A: Victims can get money to help pay for temporary housing, to repair damage to primary residences and to cover serious needs, such as disaster-related medical costs and destroyed household items. Disaster unemployment assistance may also be available.

Q: How much money can I get?

A: The most any one household can receive is $28,800, although any unemployment compensation is additional. Most don't get the maximum, Vick said.

Q: How long does the process take?

A: From start to finish, typically two to four weeks, Vick said.

Q: What if I have flood insurance?

A: You should work through your insurance claim first because FEMA cannot duplicate assistance provided by insurance, Vick said. However, you should go ahead and register with FEMA, she said. Even if you have flood insurance, FEMA can send out an inspector to evaluate your eligibility for temporary living expenses, which are sometimes not covered by flood insurance. Also, in some cases, FEMA may be able to provide assistance once your insurance company has denied your claim or you still have unmet needs, she said.

Q: What if I live in a community that has dropped out of the federal flood insurance program?

A: Several communities in southern Wisconsin were either not participating in the program or had been suspended from the program at the time of the floods, Vick said. Residents in these communities were not able to purchase federal flood insurance coverage, and they are not currently eligible for FEMA money for home repairs or to replace lost possessions, she said.

However, residents in these communities are still eligible for temporary housing assistance, she said. And, importantly, FEMA has been working to get these communities immediately back into the program, Vick said. If the communities return to the program within six months, residents will then be eligible, retroactively, for money for home repairs and to replace lost possessions, she said. They will not be able to purchase federal flood insurance retroactively, she said.

So regardless of whether a community is in the federal flood insurance program, residents should register with FEMA, Vick said.

Q: I applied for relief from FEMA and got a loan application from the Small Business Administration in the mail. What's going on?

A: Most people receive the loan application package. The SBA is the primary source of federal funds for long-term recovery assistance. The SBA has low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters and non-farm businesses to cover damage beyond the limited amount that FEMA can cover.

Q: Where can I find out more?

A: Complete information is available at www.fema.gov.

FEMA also has opened 12 disaster recovery centers where residents can get questions answered or find out about the status of their claims. (Initial registration still should be done over the phone or online.) The centers are open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily at the following locations:

Columbia County: Columbus High School, 1164 Farnham St., Columbus; and Portage High School, 301 E. Collins St., Portage.

Dane County: Disaster Recovery Center, 4318 Robertson Road, Madison.

Dodge County: Public Safety Building, 128 Cross St., Juneau. This location is scheduled to close Friday.

Fond du Lac County: UW-Fond du Lac, 400 University Ave., Fond du Lac.

Grant County: Youth Agriculture Center, Lancaster Fairgrounds, 916 E. Elm St., Lancaster.

Jefferson County: UW Extension, 864 Collins Road, Jefferson.

Milwaukee County: Milwaukee City Campus, 2711 Wells St., Milwaukee.

Rock County: New Life Assembly of God Church, 2416 N. Wright Road, Janesville.

Sauk County: Webb Middle School, 707 Webb Ave., Reedsburg.

Waukesha County: Waukesha County Highway Operations Building, 164 Woodburn Road, Waukesha.

Winnebago County: South Park School, 1551 Delaware St., Oshkosh.

Also, three mobile disaster recovery centers are traveling throughout the area. Upcoming stops are:

Juneau County: Royall High School, 1501 Academy St., Elroy, July 12 from 1-7 p.m and July 13-16 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Walworth County: Walworth County Law Enforcement Center, 1770 Highway NN, Elkhorn, July 12 from 1-7 p.m. and July 13-16 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Ozaukee County: MATC Mequon Campus, 5555 W. Highland Ave., Mequon, July 12 from 1-7 p.m. and July 13-16 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Marquette County: Marquette County Courthouse, public safety room, 77 W. Park St., Montello, July 17 from 1-7 p.m. and July 18-21 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Green Lake County: Our Lady of the Lake Church, 530 Ruth St., Green Lake, July 22 from 1-7 p.m. and July 23-26 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.