$19.7 Million in Federal Funds Approved for New Hampshire Flood Victims
Release Date: July 26, 2006
Release Number: 1644-036
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NEWINGTON, N.H. -- Between May 25 when the New Hampshire declaration was signed by President Bush and July 24, 2006, the registration deadline to apply for FEMA assistance, a total 5,702 registrations for assistance were received from residents in the six declared counties. On the final registration day, a total of 161 applications were recorded by FEMA officials.
“It is important for individual home owners, renters and business owners to realize that even though the deadline to register is over, the FEMA presence in New Hampshire is not leaving,” according to Ken Clark, federal coordinating officer. A portion of our people will continue to work in New Hampshire until September. After that, questions needing answers or help requests can be directed to the FEMA Region 1 office in Boston at 617-956-7597.
In the final Individual Assistance Daily Report, $8,199,875 in Housing Assistance and Other Needs Assistance grants were approved for 4,218 of the 5,025 applicants referred to the Individuals & Households Program (IHP) from Belknap, Carroll, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham and Strafford counties.
An additional $11,493,700 in U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest loans were approved for applicants in New Hampshire. The IHP approved dollars coupled with the approved SBA funds amount to $19,693,575 for residents.
Additional final figures pertaining to New Hampshire Disaster #1643:
- IHP Housing Assistance approved $7,534,361 in grants for residents. A total of 4,953 referrals were made to the Housing Assistance program and 4,012 were approved. Of the approved number, the average grant amounted to $1,878.
- The IHP Other Needs Assistance disbursed grants in the amount of $665,513 to 1,747 households making the average grant under that program $381.
- There were a total of 5,013 inspections issued and 4,956 returned to FEMA. Ninety-nine percent of the inspections were completed before the application deadline with an average turn-around time of 3 days 2 hours and 46 minutes.
- The SBA issued 4,831 home loan applications and 576 business applications. Over 800 of the applications were received back by SBA and 415 were of those returned were approved for low interest loans amounting to $11,493,700.
- The seven Public Assistance categories eligible for New Hampshire entities and the total dollars submitted under project worksheets are: Debris removal - $82,325; Protective Measures - $403,908; Roads and Bridges - $2,575,693; Water Control Facilities - $18,459; Public Buildings - $17,128; Public Utilities - $56,492 and Recreational or Other - $112,505 – for a total of $3,266,514.
“For the more than 5,000 residents who registered for assistance from FEMA, the May flooding was disastrous. If any good can be found in the incident it was that no New Hampshire resident lost their life due to the disaster and second it served to cement the affected communities together as neighbors helped neighbors recover. Finally, it magnified again, the need for anyone in or near the floodplain to give strong consideration to carrying flood insurance,” commented Mike Poirier, state coordinating officer, New Hampshire Bureau of Emergency Management.
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: Wednesday, 06-Dec-2006 11:42:45