Disaster Aid Nearing $1.5 Million
Release Date: October 10, 2003
Release Number: 1485-11
» More Information on Pennsylvania Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
Harrisburg, PA -- Disaster aid is flowing to individuals, businesses and state and local governments affected by the storms that moved through Pennsylvania this summer, including Labor Day week rains and flooding in three northeastern counties. A total of $1.3 million has been approved to date, much of it for Lackawanna County individuals and families.
- More than $550,000 has been approved for the Individuals
and Households Program with nearly $525,000 approved for housing needs. The
housing assistance program assures that people whose homes are damaged by
disaster have a safe place to live. Some $27,000 has been approved under FEMA's
Other Needs Assistance, which provides financial assistance to individuals
and households who have other disaster-related expenses or serious needs not
covered by insurance.
- The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved
$68,900 in low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters and businesses.
This program is designed to provide funds for expenses that are not covered
by insurance.
- To date, 374 homeowners, renters and business owners in
Lackawanna County have registered for disaster assistance by calling FEMA's
toll-free number at 1-800-621-3362 or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for the speech- or
hearing-impaired. Lines are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
- The FEMA Helpline also is operational for those who may
need to check on the status of their application or make changes to vital
information such as the contact telephone number or address. The telephone
number and hours are the same as the registration number.
- The deadline for individuals and businesses to apply for
disaster aid is Nov. 18, 2003.
- A total of 257 people visited the Disaster Recovery Center
in Mayfield to receive information on disaster assistance. The center closed
on Thursday, Oct. 9.
- Nearly $700,000 has been obligated under the Public Assistance
Grant Program. This program provides federal assistance to help state, local
and certain non-profit organizations in 13 Pennsylvania counties meet eligible
disaster-related expenses. Lackawanna, Wayne and Wyoming are among the designated
counties. FEMA will pay 75 percent of eligible costs such as debris removal,
and permanent restoration to public buildings, equipment, and roads and bridges.
Additional counties covered under the declaration include Clarion, Crawford,
Forest, Lawrence, Mercer, McKean, Potter, Tioga, Venango and Warren.
- State and local governments have made 295 requests for assistance
from the FEMA Infrastructure Assistance Program, which provides funds for
the repair of public facilities such as roads, bridges, public buildings and
utilities, and for debris removal. Certain private non-profit organizations
that operate eligible facilities may qualify for assistance.
- All counties in the state are eligible for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which provides funding to state and local governments for measures designed to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural hazards.
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: Friday, 10-Oct-2003 16:34:49