$36 Million In Disaster Aid Approved For North Carolina; 18,264 Have Applied For Assistance
Release Date: October 1, 2003
Release Number: 1490-22
» More Information on North Carolina Hurricane Isabel
Raleigh, NC -- A total of $36.6 million in federal/state disaster aid has been approved for residents of 26 North Carolina counties that sustained damages during Hurricane Isabel. President Bush declared the counties disaster areas shortly after landfall on September 18, at the request of Gov. Mike Easley.
In the two weeks since, 18,264 North Carolina residents and business owners have applied for various forms of federal/state disaster assistance. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said that several thousand state residents continue to register daily by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) (7 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week; TTY 1-800-462-7585).
Individuals, families and business owners who reside in the designated counties and who sustained disaster losses from the hurricane are eligible for a wide range of disaster assistance programs. These include grants for eligible repairs or temporary housing required by the disaster, low-interest disaster loans to both residents and businesses from the Small Business Administration (SBA), and other emergency measures.
The following is a snapshot, to date, of the federal/state disaster aid approved for North Carolina.
Aid - Initial Response:
- A dozen federal agencies were tasked by FEMA to perform 45 response missions at a cost to the federal and North Carolina state governments of nearly $19.4 million.
- Missions ranged from supporting mass care operations and disposing of hazardous materials to providing meals, ice, water, showers, satellite images, and medical supplies and personnel.
- The state and local governments and the American Red Cross operated 127 shelters at the height of the storm, housing 16,672 people.
- 1,500 members of the National Guard conducted numerous air and ground missions to transport food, water, generators and other emergency supplies into the affected area.
- More than 400 state law enforcement officers supplemented local law enforcement.
- NC Dept. of Transportation employees cleared roads and continue repair and debris removal.
- The Governor's Hotline answered more than 9,000 phone calls in the 48-hour period before and after landfall, and continues to take calls and coordinate donations of relief supplies.
- The N.C. Division of Emergency Management and FEMA coordinated the delivery of a multitude of disaster relief supplies to the state including 1.6 million pounds of ice, 807,000 bottles/liters of water, and 319,680 Meals Ready to Eat (MREs).
- The Environmental Protection Agency carried out identification, collection and disposal of hazardous materials, at an estimated cost of $1 million.
- The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, tasked by FEMA, planned and implemented dredging operations at an estimated cost of $4.3 million to fill the channel on Hatteras Island.
- FEMA has committed $1.2 million for mosquito abatement.
Aid - Individuals, families and businesses:
- Individual & Households Program (IHP)-$11.7 million has been approved, and 94 percent of that amount is already "on the street," disbursed to applicants through electronic funds transfer: Federal share: $10.6 million; State share: $1.1 million;
- SBA has issued a total of 10,435 applications: 8,041 applications to homeowners and renters, and 2,394 applications to business owners;
- Requests have been issued to inspect 11,659 homes and businesses of applicants, and 72 percent of those have been completed.
"All these funds will help thousands of North Carolinians rebuild their homes as well as their lives," said Governor Easley. "We are working closely with FEMA to ensure disaster aid is made available to storm victims as quickly as possible."
Gracia Szczech, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) official in charge of the recovery effort, added, "After you have called to register with us, you may want to come to one of our Disaster Recovery Centers now open throughout northeast North Carolina. The federal and state specialists there can help you fill out paperwork, or answer your questions. It is a chance to meet face to face with disaster recovery experts, and get personal guidance through whatever happens next."
Recovery officials urge anyone who suffered damage from Hurricane Isabel to
call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) to apply for assistance.
The speech- or hearing-impaired should call
1-800-462-7585 (TTY).
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: Wednesday, 01-Oct-2003 16:03:03