New Yorkers Have Two Weeks To Register For Disaster Assistance
Flood Assistance for New Yorkers reaches $142 Million
Release Date: September 15, 2006
Release Number: 1650-082
» More Information on New York Severe Storms and Flooding
ALBANY, N.Y. -- New York State and federal officials urge those affected by the June severe storms and floods to register for State and federal disaster assistance before the October 2, 2006 deadline.
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low interest disaster loan applications also should be completed and returned by the registration deadline.
To date, 13,378 individuals have registered for assistance with FEMA.
More than $22.8 million has been approved for 8,164 households through the FEMA Housing Program, part of the FEMA/State Individuals and Households Program (IHP). Housing assistance provides grants to renters to find alternate housing. Homeowners may receive grants to make the home livable or, if that cannot be done, grants are given to rent alternate housing. The program is funded 100 percent by FEMA.
Nearly $5.8 million has been approved for 2,634 households under the FEMA/State Other Needs Assistance Program (ONA). Another part of the IHP, ONA provides grants for lost personal property, transportation, medical, dental and funeral expenses to those who have serious and essential needs unmet by other assistance programs.
In addition, more than $88 million has been approved for SBA loans to more than 2,015 New Yorkers. SBA low-interest disaster loans are available to renters, for personal property and automobiles, and homeowners, to repair or replace disaster damaged real estate or personal property, with interest rates as low as 2.937 percent. Businesses of all sizes may be eligible for a loan up to $1.5 million with terms as low as 4 percent. An SBA low-interest disaster loan is the primary source of federal funding to help those affected return to pre-disaster conditions.
The State of New York has awarded $15 million to flood victims through the State's Individual and Family Grant program.
FEMA Public Assistance funds have been obligated for more than $6.8 million to help New York counties repair flood damage and rebuild infrastructure damaged or destroyed in the June flooding. This represents 75 percent of the cost of approved public assistance projects. The remaining 25 percent will be paid by the State of New York.
A total of $3.3 million was awarded to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for hazardous materials cleanup in the affected counties.
President Bush's disaster declaration of July 1 enabled residents and business owners in Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Herkimer, Montgomery, Oneida, Orange, Otsego, Schoharie, Sullivan, Tioga and Ulster counties to register for federal recovery aid.
To register, New Yorkers who suffered damage by the June floods need to make two phone calls for assistance:
First, contact the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY: 1-800-462-7585. Lines are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., daily. You also can register online at www.fema.gov. The FEMA Helpline number is 1-800-621-3362, at option 3.
For the New York State Individual and Family Grant Program, call 1-888-7-NYS-AID (1-888-769-7243) or TTY: NYS Relay 711. Lines are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon. New York State Helpline, 1-888-329-7540, is available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday - Saturday. For Empire State Development Corp. programs, call 1-800-STATE-NY. You also can register online at www.labor.state.ny.us and www.empire.state.ny.us/flood_grant.
FEMA's temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, an applicant must complete an SBA loan application to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.
FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Friday, 15-Sep-2006 15:47:43