NY Disaster Assistance Tops $23 Million With Less Than Three Weeks To Register
Release Date: June 5, 2007
Release Number: 1692-051
» More Information on New York Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding
ALBANY, N.Y. -- More than $23 million in disaster grants and low-interest loans has been approved for homeowners, renters, and business owners who suffered damages during the April 14-18 nor'easter, according to officials with the New York State Emergency Management Office (SEMO) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
To date, 7,679 New York households in the seven-county disaster area have registered for individual assistance (IA).
Counties eligible for IA are Albany, Dutchess, Orange, Richmond (Staten Island), Rockland, Ulster, and Westchester.
Homeowners, renters, and business owners who have suffered loss or damage and who have not yet registered need to do so before the June 25, 2007 deadline.
Recovery efforts to date include:
- More than $9 million in grants to 4,232 households has been approved by FEMA for home repairs and renting alternative housing.
- Nearly $840,000 in grants to 730 households has been approved by the State of New York and FEMA for other serious needs.
- More than $13 million in low-interest disaster loans have been offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to 309 households and businesses.
- More than 2,800 people affected by the disaster met with recovery experts at special Disaster Recovery Centers set up throughout the region to provide help.
- Nearly 8,400 individuals met with FEMA mitigation experts at numerous Mitigation Outreach centers at home supply stores to learn techniques to help lessen future disaster damages.
Anyone affected by the disaster can register for assistance by calling FEMA's toll-free registration line at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. Hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Register anytime online at www.fema.gov. Registrants should use the name as it appears on their Social Security card when registering online.
Thirteen New York counties also have been declared eligible for Public Assistance because of the April storm. A public assistance declaration makes state and local governments and certain nonprofit organizations eligible for aid to cover such items as emergency workers' overtime, debris removal, and repair of public facilities not covered by insurance.
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.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 05-Jun-2007 14:10:45