With this week's strong winds and rain and the impending arrival of winter, homeowners should ensure that their home-heating systems are in good working order, especially ones damaged by this summer's floods.

Federal disaster assistance may cover furnace repairs that are related to severe storms and flooding that happened from July 19 through Aug. 7, according to disaster officials with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).  The deadline is November 17th.

If residents live in the disaster-declared counties— Carroll, Cook, DuPage, Jo Daviess, Ogle, Stephenson, and Winnebago—and had flood damage to their furnace, they should register for assistance. Apply online anytime at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or call 1-800-621-3362 (TTY1-800-462-7585) from 7 a.m. – 10 p.m. daily. Telephone assistance is available in many languages.

Federal help may be available for cleaning and testing the flood-damaged furnace, for repairs, or for replacement if the furnace is destroyed.

If the need for repair or replacement is discovered after a homeowner receives federal aid to cover cleaning and testing expenses, the resident has the option of filing an appeal for additional disaster funds within 60 days of the date of their award or denial letter.