Disaster Assistance Eligibility In NY: Who Can Apply?
Release Date: May 17, 2007
Release Number: 1692-031
» More Information on New York Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding
ALBANY, N.Y. -- People who are not U.S. citizens may be eligible for disaster assistance for loss or damage from the April nor'easter and subsequent flooding.
Disaster assistance is now available to residents and businesses in Albany, Dutchess and Richmond counties. The assistance is also available in Orange, Rockland and Westchester counties, which received the disaster declaration earlier.
The aid is available to citizens, non-citizen nationals, qualified aliens and victims of a severe form of trafficking in persons.
The status of qualified alien includes:
- legal permanent residents (those with green cards),
- those with refugee or asylum status,
- those whose deportation has been withheld,
- those on parole into the U.S. for at least one year for humanitarian purposes,
- those with conditional entry,
- those who are Cuban-Haitian entrants,
- and those with petitions for relief based on battery or extreme cruelty by a family member.
The registration for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requires registrants to certify that they are either citizens, non-citizen nationals or qualified aliens. FEMA conducts random audits of registrants to verify U.S. citizenship and qualified alien documentation issued by the Immigration and Naturalization Service. However, assistance can be given as long as someone in the household is entitled to it, and no information will be gathered regarding the status of others in the household.
A minor child who is a citizen, non-citizen national or qualified alien can have a parent or guardian who is not eligible apply for assistance on the child's behalf. No information will be gathered on the adult's status.
Undocumented immigrants from a household with no one eligible for cash assistance from FEMA may still be eligible for programs run by state, local or voluntary agencies. They also may be eligible for short-term, non-cash aid from FEMA, such as disaster legal services.
Assistance for eligible individuals and small businesses includes funds for temporary housing and necessary home repairs, individual and household grants, disaster unemployment assistance, low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration and other programs.
To register for state and federal assistance, call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. The toll-free lines are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.
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: Friday, 18-May-2007 09:01:28