Typhoon Recovery Continues; $73.6 Million Approved
Release Date: October 25, 2002
Release Number: 1426-28
» More Information on Guam Typhoon Chata'an
Dededo, Guam -- Even though the application period has been closed for over a month, recovery efforts in response to Typhoon Chata'an continue. Federal, state, local and volunteer agencies have been working together since the July disaster to provide assistance to the citizens and Government of Guam.
To date, more than $73 million in individual and public assistance has been approved. The following is a summary of disaster activity as of Oct. 22.
- More than $10 million in FEMA disaster housing checks has been issued
to 5,947 residents affected by Typhoon Chata'an.
- A total of 12,725 applicants registered for federal/state disaster
assistance. .
- $30.1 million in U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster
loans to homeowners, renters, and businesses of all sizes has been approved.
SBA disaster loans are the primary form of federal assistance for privately
owned real and personal property to fund repair and replacement costs
that are not fully covered by insurance or other recovery programs.
- $16 million has been approved for the Individual and Family Grant
Program (IFG). The program, administered by GovGuam, provides grants
to help families cover serious needs and necessary expenses not covered
by insurance or other disaster assistance programs.
- $942,970 has been issued to recipients of the Disaster Unemployment
Assistance program.
- $6.5 million was distributed in the form of food stamps to 79,814
individuals
- A Crisis Counseling grant of more than $147,000 was awarded to provide
crisis counseling for residents. The grant is administered by the University
of Guam Cooperative Extension Services, in partnership with the Department
of Mental Health and Substance Abuse.
- 11,676 people visited Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) at the Yigo
gymnasium, the Merizo Community Center and the University of Guam
- 8,939 people took advantage of the local Helpline provided for their
assistance. Translators with language skills in Chamorro, Chuukese,
Tagalog and English assisted those who called. In addition, 15,842 people
also called FEMA's National Helpline for assistance.
- 10,937 home inspections were completed
- Volunteer agencies formed a long-term recovery committee to address
unmet recovery needs of disaster victims. Called Community Partners
In Recovery (CPR), the group is an outgrowth of Guam Voluntary Organizations
Active in Disasters (GUVOAD).
- $10 million in Public Assistance Grants, less advance funding and insurance coverage, has been approved. The grants reimburse the costs of emergency debris removal and protective measures and the cost to repair roads and bridges, water control facilities, buildings and equipment, utilities and parks. Public Assistance Applicants include Department of Public Works; Department of Education; Guam Power Authority; Guam Waterworks Authority; Guam Military Affairs; Guam Telephone Authority and many others including a small number of Private non-profits. As additional Project Worksheets (PWs) are approved, additional grant monies will be added. The deadline of 60 days to identify and report damage after the first substantive applicants' meeting with Public Assistance Staff has passed. New requests for a PW to cover previously unidentified damage will no longer be accepted.
Although FEMA was the lead agency for Typhoon Chata'an recovery effort, FEMA's Federal Coordinating Officer Bill Carwile noted that a number of other federal agencies also assisted with recovery efforts. They include the Department of Transportation, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Forest Service, Health & Human Services, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Energy, General Services Administration and the Department of Defense. Members of the United States Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard were also instrumental in recovery efforts. "Our job would have been much more difficult without the help of these agencies and organizations, Carwile said. "Their commitment to the overall success of our mission is indeed gratifying."
People who registered for assistance, but still have questions regarding their application, should call FEMA's National Helpline toll free at 1-800-462-3362 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Guam time.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 13-Aug-2003 11:11:51