FEMA Issues First Disaster Assistance Checks 

Release Date: September 24, 2003
Release Number: 1485-05

» More Information on Pennsylvania Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

Harrisburg, PA - Twenty-four grants totaling $38,000 in disaster housing assistance have gone out to families in Lackawanna County. This comes within three days of the county's designation as eligible for aid to replace damage from the Labor Day week storms, according to disaster recovery officials.

"This assistance is an important step in the recovery process, and reflects Governor Rendell's persistence and commitment to providing help to these victims as quickly as possible," said Pennsylvania Emergency Management Director David M. Sanko. "In the weeks ahead, we will continue to work with our federal, local and volunteer partners to help address the needs of Pennsylvania residents affected by the disaster."

FEMA's Federal Coordinating Officer Tom Davies said the first 11 checks went out Monday. "The others checks for disaster housing payments were issued Tuesday. If an applicant chose the direct deposit option it may already be in their accounts." A total of 209 applications have been received since Sept. 19 when the county was designated eligible for disaster aid.

"We are pleased that we were able to send the first checks out to disaster victims within such a short period of time," Davies said. "Our first concern is always for the housing needs of people affected by a disaster, and that's what these first checks represent."

These initial funds will aid flood-stricken residents with disaster housing needs. Other checks will continue to flow in the days and weeks ahead as more registrations are received and inspections are completed.

Residents of Lackawanna County who sustained losses from the Labor Day week storms are urged to call the FEMA toll-free registration line at 1-800-621-3362 (TTY for the speech- and hearing-impaired: 1-800-462-7585) to register for assistance. Hours of operation are 7 a.m. to midnight seven days a week until further notice.

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: Thursday, 02-Oct-2003 13:32:18