$56 Thousand* in Federal Disaster Aid for Rhode Island
Release Date: August 13, 2007
Release Number: 1704-003
» More Information on Rhode Island Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding
WINDSOR, Conn. -- More than $56 thousand* in federal aid is obligated to help Rhode Island communities recover from damage and destruction caused by severe storms and flooding in April, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The process of helping Newport County recover from the mid-April storms is moving rapidly to completion. With 15 projects underway, 13 are now obligated for federal funding and the other two projects are getting final reviews. The storms of April 15-16 caused heavy rain and high winds in Newport County leading to utility and road damage and emergency response costs. On May 25, the president declared a major disaster, which made federal assistance grants available to the state, eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations in Newport County.
FEMA Public Assistance grants cover 75 percent of the cost of approved repair, reconstruction and mitigation projects with the remaining 25 percent coming from state and local agencies.
FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
*"$560 Thousand" changed to "$56 Thousand" for accuracy.
Last Modified: Monday, 13-Aug-2007 17:03:20