Typhoon Recovery Grants Top $43 Million
Release Date: August 23, 2002
Release Number: 1426-20
» More Information on Guam Typhoon Chata'an
Dededo, Guam -- With less than three weeks to go, 11,485 people have registered with FEMA for assistance as a result of damages from Typhoon Chata'an. The deadline for registering is September 10th. To date, more than $43.6 million in individual and public assistance disaster grants have been approved. The following is a summary of disaster activity and various forms of assistance provided to victims of Typhoon Chata'an as of August 22nd.
- More than $9.2 million in FEMA disaster housing checks has been issued to 5,686 residents affected by Typhoon Chata'an. To date, 11,485 applicants have registered for federal/state disaster assistance. The purpose of the FEMA Disaster Housing Program is to help families be safely housed following the effects of a natural disaster. FEMA disaster housing assistance may include lodging expense reimbursement, emergency minimal repair assistance, temporary rental assistance and mortgage and rental assistance.
- Public assistance reimbursement funds for emergency protective measures and debris removal costs were authorized under the disaster declaration, which includes emergency protective services including rescue operations, police and firefighters, evacuations, providing shelters and emergency care, provisions such as food, water, ice and other essential needs, medicine, and the removal of health and safety hazards. In addition, the expanded declaration of July 25 authorized assistance to include roads and bridges, water control facilities, buildings and equipment, utilities, recreational facilities and other items. There have been 74 requests for public assistance to date and $4.86 million has been approved for Guam.
- The U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) provides low interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, and businesses of all sizes for the repair or replacement of property damaged or destroyed by Typhoon Chata'an. SBA has issued 4,447 disaster loan applications to date and approved $16.24 million in low interest loans. SBA disaster loans are the primary form of federal assistance for privately owned real and personal property. Federal disaster loans from SBA fund repair and replacement costs that are not fully covered by insurance or other recoveries.
- The Individual and Family Grant Program (IFG) provides grants to help families cover serious needs and necessary expenses to overcome disaster-related hardship, injury, or adverse conditions not covered by insurance or other disaster assistance programs. The IFG program is administered by the territory of Guam with costs shared by FEMA and GovGuam. To date, nearly $13.4 million has been approved.
- Housing inspectors are continuing to verify damage to determine eligibility for FEMA disaster housing assistance. FEMA presently has 13 inspectors on island, and to date 9,449 inspections have been completed.
- Five members of the U.S. Coast Guard's Atlantic and Pacific Strike Forces are in Guam to assist in containing, packaging and disposing of hazardous waste resulting from Typhoon Chata'an.
- A Crisis Counseling grant of more than $147,000 was awarded to GovGuam to provide crisis counseling for residents. The FEMA grant is being administered by the University of Guam Cooperative Extension Services in collaboration with the Department of Public Health and Substance Abuse. Those who wish to talk to someone about their feelings regarding their disaster-related losses are encouraged to call
735-2128 for referrals.
- A total of 25 members of the Army Corps of Engineers are continuing with their logistic support, power generation, and recovery and disposal of debris on both Guam and Chuuk State.
- The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in conjunction with FEMA and the Guam Environmental Protection Agency, sponsored a two-day collection of household hazardous wastes generated by the typhoon. More than 600 residents brought their household hazardous waste to the collection points. The wastes will be disposed of off island.
- Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) continue to be open at the Yigo Gymnasium and the Merizo Community Center. To date, 10,636 people have visited centers to obtain assistance and receive specific information about the application process. Anyone with disaster losses can apply for a wide range of federal and locally administered aid programs at any DRC. Telephones are available at all locations for contacting FEMA's toll-free registration line.
Individuals and business owners who suffered losses or damages during Typhoon Chata'an are encouraged to register by calling FEMA's toll-free number, 1-800-621-3362 or 1-800-462-7585 for the speech- and hearing- impaired. These numbers are in operation from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Guam time, Monday through Saturday.
Those who have already registered but need to update their information (new telephone numbers, for example) or who have questions about the status of their application, should call the local Helpline number at 633-9820, seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Guam time.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 13-Aug-2003 11:21:07