State-FEMA Speed N.C. Disaster Aid: 11,000 Apply In First Week, $5.6 Million Approved
Release Date: September 26, 2003
Release Number: 1490-12
» More Information on North Carolina Hurricane Isabel
Raleigh, NC -- At the end of the first week of Hurricane Isabel recovery operations, state and federal assistance approved for North Carolina's 26 declared disaster counties exceeds $5.6 million, with checks reaching applicants by direct deposit virtually as soon as requests are approved. Assistance for housing alone now exceeds $3.5 million.
More than 11,000 residents have registered for assistance over the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) toll-free number, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Persons with speech or hearing impairment should call (TTY) 1-800-462-7585.
The U.S. Small Business Administration has issued more than 5,700 low-interest disaster loan applications to homeowners, renters and business owners.
Other actions since the federal declaration was issued Sept. 18:
- Eight disaster recovery centers are operational in the hardest-hit areas;
- 22 community relations officers are in the field, teamed up with state and local partners;
- A dozen federal agencies have been tasked by FEMA to perform 39 recovery missions at a cost of nearly $16 million;
- 26 Public Assistance teams are assessing infrastructure losses; and
- FEMA delivered 725,685 pounds of ice and 574,848 liters of water.
Mitigation, a long-term priority in disaster recovery, helped spare more than 200 homes in the town of Belhaven from damage after FEMA and the state paid to elevate them above base flood elevation following Hurricane Fran.
Officials expect that seven miles of seriously damaged Highway 12 in Dare and Hyde counties will be repaired by the end of October.
The Corps of Engineers has issued a $2.6 million order to begin dredging operations Monday to fill the channel on Hatteras Island that was cut by Hurricane Isabel.
The state has requested FEMA's assistance in making crisis counseling available to stressed families and it has activated the disaster unemployment assistance program to provide benefits to those whose source of income was lost due to the hurricane.
The Department of Defense has delivered 70,000 MREs (packaged meals) to the state warehouse at Rocky Mount.
Communities in 14 counties remain under a notice to boil water.
Approximately 24,000 customers out of an original 685,000 are still without electricity.
Only one school remains closed due to lack of electricity. A generator has been dispatched to Bertie County from Fort Bragg at the request of the state.
To date voluntary organizations have served 311,423 meals and snacks.
One shelter remains open, at Elizabeth City in Pasquotank County, with a population of 12.
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 10:22:54