Disaster Assistance Summary
$5.64 Million In Federal/District Assistance Obligated
Release Date: October 7, 2003
Release Number: 1493-20
» More Information on District of Columbia Hurricane Isabel
Washington, DC - The D.C. Emergency Management Agency (EMA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) officials, along with various federal and district partners and voluntary agencies, continue to help residents of the District of Columbia who were affected by Hurricane Isabel. As of Oct. 6, $5.64 million in federal disaster assistance has been approved to help residents meet their basic disaster-recovery needs.
Recovery Assistance for Individuals and Households
- FEMA has approved more than $419,000 to applicants through the Individuals and Households Program. Funding includes more than $326,000 for housing needs and more than $92,000 for other disaster-related needs not covered by insurance. These amounts will increase as more applicants are identified.
Direct Federal Assistance for Emergency Life-sustaining Needs
- To date, FEMA has approved more than $1.2 million has been approved to support life-sustaining missions since the onset of Hurricane Isabel for critical needs such as ice and mass food distribution.
Disaster Update Information
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More than 372 people have visited the mobile Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) to receive information on disaster assistance. A complete list of DRCs open in the disaster- affected areas can be found at the D.C. Government website -- www.dc.gov. Applicants may also find disaster assistance information at www.fema.gov.
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More than 1,165 individuals have registered by calling FEMA's toll-free number: 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for the speech- or hearing-impaired. Lines are open from 7 a.m. to midnight, daily
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Residents who incurred expenses by staying in a hotel or motel as a result of evacuation prior to the hurricane or the power outages that occurred in the District after Hurricane Isabel or residents whose homes were made unsafe due to hurricane damages may qualify for reimbursements for their lodging expenses. Applicants must ensure that they save the associated lodging receipts and prepare to send copies of those receipts to FEMA.
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The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has issued more than 675 applications to homeowners and businesses of all sizes for low-interest loans.
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District residents receiving food-stamp benefits who lost food during the storm and other low-income residents who need them participated in the District's Emergency Food Stamp Program. The program, administered by the D.C. Department of Human Services' Income Maintenance Administration and funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), began September 26 and ended October 6. USDA provided $4 million in funding for the District's Emergency Food Stamp Program.
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People living or working in any of the disaster-declared jurisdictions whose jobs have been affected by Hurricane Isabel, may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) through the D.C Department of Employment Services. Residents must apply no later than October 27, 2003. Addresses for filing locations may be obtained from the D.C. Government and FEMA web sites. FEMA provided $30,360 to fund the District's DUA program.
- Those who are making repairs to their homes and businesses can check out many contractors' licensing and possible complaint history by contacting the D.C. Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs at (202) 442-4311 for more information.
On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages Citizen Corps, the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 07-Oct-2003 11:55:23