Disaster Assistance Totals More Than $38.5 Million
More Than $8.4 Million Approved For Individual Assistance, More Than $4.5 Million Approved For Public Assistance, More Than $22 Million Approved For Direct Federal Assistance
Release Date: September 28, 2003
Release Number: 1491-17
Richmond, VA -- According to federal and state officials, more than $38.5 million in disaster assistance has been approved in the first ten days since Hurricane Isabel. The approved amounts cover three types of assistance:
- More than $5.5 million in FEMA grants have been approved to help disaster-affected homeowners and renters who need a place to stay or who may need to make repairs for their homes to be functional.
- More than $2.9 million has been approved for residents to help cover other eligible disaster needs, such as replacing personal property and other expenses such as medical, dental and funeral.
Individual Assistance- (Individuals and Households Program)
- More than $22 million has been approved for Direct Assistance. This includes cost-sharing between FEMA and the state. These monies have been used since the onset of Hurricane Isabel to support emergency needs such as water and ice. Funds have also been approved for generators.
Direct Federal Assistance
- FEMA's Public Assistance Grant Program is a way for federal assistance to help the state, local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations recover from Hurricane Isabel. While these grants are aimed at governments and organizations, their ultimate goal is to help communities and all its citizens recover from a devastating disaster like Hurricane Isabel.
- Public assistance funds are 75/25 percent cost-sharing funds between FEMA and the state. For expenses associated with Hurricane Isabel, state and local governments in the declared areas may be eligible to recover costs for debris removal and emergency protective measures. Emergency protective measures may include reimbursement for disaster-related emergency work to ensure public safety and personnel overtime expenses. Thus far, $4.5 million has been appropriated for Public Assistance.
Public Assistance
- On Friday, 600,000 lbs. of ice and 66,400 gallons of water were delivered to the eight distribution sites in areas affected by Hurricane Isabel. Thus far, FEMA, in conjunction with the state, has delivered more than 6.1 million lbs. of ice and 1.3 million gallons of water.
- To date, 26 generators have been installed at disaster-affected critical public facilities to support life-sustaining community needs.
- More than 1,500 people have visited the Disaster Recovery
Centers (DRCs) to receive information on disaster assistance. A DRC in Virginia
Beach opened at noon today to assist disaster victims. Other DRC activity
is as follows:
Buena Vista (30 visitors thus far)
Hampton (204 visitors thus far)
Gloucester (180 visitors thus far)
Newport News (68 visitors thus far)
Norfolk (142 visitors thus far)
Poquoson (932 visitors thus far) - The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has issued more than 21,200 applications to homeowners and businesses for low-interest loans.
- Community Relations federal /state teams are working in communities and getting disaster information to those in disaster-stricken communities. There are currently 26 teams working in declared counties.
- People living or working in any one of the disaster-declared counties whose jobs have been affected by Hurricane Isabel may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) through the Virginia Employment Commission. Those who are eligible may visit the nearest office for more information. The filing deadline is October 24.
- There are more than 300 FEMA inspectors visiting homes to verify damages caused by Hurricane Isabel. Thus far, 8,000 inspections have been completed.
- Voluntary agencies have served more than 612,200 meals.
- Those who are making repairs to their homes and business can check out the contractor's licensing and complaint history with the Virginia Board for Contractors at (804) 367-8511, the Virginia Office of Consumer Affairs at (804) 786-2042 or (800) 552-9963 (if calling from outside the Richmond area), and your local Better Business Bureau.
- Disaster-related scams or other consumer fraud can
be reported to the Office of the Attorney General by calling 1-800-451-1525.
Disaster Update Information
More than 34,500 individuals have registered by calling FEMA's toll-free number
at: 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. Even if you have registered for
help with voluntary agencies, you still may be eligible for FEMA disaster assistance.
Anyone affected by this disaster is encouraged to call.
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: Monday, 29-Sep-2003 17:06:09