New York Disaster Assistance For June Floods Tops $227 Million
Release Date: December 29, 2006
Release Number: 1650-123
» More Information on New York Severe Storms and Flooding
ALBANY, N.Y. -- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and State of New York officials announced today that more than $227 million has been approved or obligated for assistance to families and individuals as well as public entities that suffered damage from the severe storms and flooding in late June and early July.
The following is an update of recovery activities from FEMA and the New York State Emergency Management Office (SEMO) as of close of business Monday, December 18.
- 15,530 individuals (homeowners and renters) have applied for assistance.
- $24.57 million has been approved for applicants through the FEMA Housing Program, part of the FEMA/State Individuals and Households Program (IHP). Housing assistance provides grants to renters to find alternate housing. Homeowners may receive grants for temporary disaster housing assistance; repairing disaster-damaged, uninsured homes to a safe, sanitary and functional condition; and replacement grants for serious, disaster-related needs and expenses not covered by insurance or other assistance programs. The program is funded 100 percent by FEMA.
- $6.69 million has been approved for the FEMA/State Other Needs Assistance Program (ONA), another part of the IHP, which provides grants for lost personal property, transportation, medical, dental and funeral expenses to those who have serious and essential needs unmet by other assistance programs.
- $108 million in low-interest disaster loans has been approved for homeowners, renters and business owners by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Low-interest disaster loans may be available to renters for personal property and automobiles, and homeowners to repair or replace disaster damaged real estate or personal property, at interest rates as low as 2.973 percent. Businesses of all sizes may be eligible for a loan up to $1.5 million with interest rates as low as 4 percent and terms up to 30 years. An SBA low-interest disaster loan is the primary source of federal funding to help those affected return to pre-disaster conditions.
- $3.3 million has been awarded to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for hazardous materials cleanup in the affected counties.
- $84.5 million has been obligated as the federal share (75%) of Public Assistance funds to help New York government entities and eligible private non-profits repair flood damage and rebuild infrastructure damaged or destroyed in the June flooding, and help with emergency costs such as debris removal and overtime for emergency workers.
- 15,964 visits were made to the FEMA/State Disaster Assistance Service Centers (DASCs). The centers offered disaster victims an opportunity to meet with representatives from FEMA and the State of New York to get answers to their disaster application process.
The major federal disaster declaration on July 1 enabled residents and business owners in Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Herkimer, Montgomery, Oneida, Orange, Otsego, Schoharie, Sullivan, Tioga and Ulster counties to register for federal recovery aid.
FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident, initiates mitigation activities and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA works closely with state and local emergency managers, law enforcement personnel, firefighters and other first responders. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Friday, 29-Dec-2006 14:11:38