Disaster Aid Passes $5 Million; FEMA/DEMA Office Closes
Release Date: October 29, 1999
Release Number: 1297-47
» More Information on Delaware Hurricane Floyd
NEW CASTLE, Del. -- Disaster aid passed $5 million as the FEMA/DEMA Disaster Field Office at 12 Penns Way near the New Castle County Airport prepared to close at the end of business on Friday, Oct. 29.
But help will still be available for survivors of Hurricane Floyd:
- Hurricane Floyd survivors will be able to register for assistance at FEMA's toll-free teleregistration number, 1-800-462-9029, until the deadline on Nov. 19. Hearing- or speech-impaired individuals may call the FEMA TTY Hotline at 1-800-462-7585.
- Individuals who have already registered but have questions about assistance or the status of an application can call the toll-free Helpline at 1-800-525-0321 (TTY 1-800-462-7585).
- A Long-Term Recovery Committee-Delaware has been created to help people who still have serious unmet needs from the disaster. For assistance from this committee, call the Delaware Helpline at 1-800-464-4357.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) have provided disaster assistance of $5,209,670 for housing and related needs in Delaware as a result of the severe storms and flooding that occurred between Sept. 15-17 because of Hurricane Floyd.
As of Thursday, Oct. 28, FEMA's Disaster Housing Assistance Program had approved $776,941.47 to 355 registrants. The state-administered Individual and Family Grants program had approved $170,268.77 to 79 registrants. SBA had approved $1,891,000 in low-interest disaster loans to 55 individuals and businesses. For an application status or for questions on SBA loans, applicants can call the SBA at 1-800-659-2955, Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.
As of Thursday, Oct. 28, FEMA's Public Assistance program had approved $2,371,460.15 for 28 applicants. This figure includes $439,594 for repair of the road and embankment around Silver Lake. All of Silver Lake drained when more than 200 feet of the road and embankment washed away in the flooding unleashed by Hurricane Floyd Sept. 16.
The Public Assistance program provides funds to state agencies and local governments for up to 75 percent of the approved costs for debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the repair, restoration and replacement of public facilities damaged by the floods. Assistance also may be provided to repair, restore and replace facilities owned by certain nonprofit organizations that operate and maintain educational, utility, emergency, medical and custodial care and other essential governmental service facilities.
- A total of 650 households and businesses from New Castle County have registered for assistance.
- The deadline for applying for federal disaster assistance in New Castle County, and for returning SBA loan applications for physical damage, is Friday, Nov.19, just three weeks away. Business owners interested in applying for economic injury disaster loans may do so until June 21, 2000.
- The joint FEMA-SBA information site in Newark closed Oct. 14 after providing information to more than 714 individuals and business owners in New Castle County.
The key to disaster survivors being eligible for additional assistance lies in the return of SBA loan-application packages. Victims who have already received some disaster assistance may be eligible for additional assistance through the state-administered Individual and Family Grant Program. If the SBA cannot approve the application, after it is received, applicants may be referred to the Individual and Family Grant Program. This could include disaster-related expenses such as replacement of essential personal property, transportation, or the rental of equipment to help with recovery. These grants may also be used for items not normally covered under the SBA disaster loan program, such as disaster-related medical and dental bills.
Last Modified: Thursday, 04-Dec-2003 09:47:23