FEMA Confirms Error with IFG Post Office Box; Provides Guidelines for Applicants with Returned Mail
Release Date: November 27, 2002
Release Number: 1391-179
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New York, NY -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) confirmed that an agency administrative error resulted in an inadvertent three-day closure of the post office box in Albany, NY used for applicants' documents for the Individual and Family Grant (IFG) program. FEMA quickly rectified the situation, and new applicants should continue to mail their documents to the address provided in the correspondence received from IFG.
U.S. Postal Service (USPS) authorities estimate that envelopes containing documents and receipts from approximately 300-500 IFG applicants were halted in the mail system and marked "Return to Sender." Recovery officials request that any applicants whose envelopes were returned to their home immediately resend their documents and receipts to IFG offices in Albany where they will be processed through normal channels. Applicants may also submit documents and receipts in person at FEMA's Applicant Assistance Center, located in lower Manhattan at 141 Worth St.
Another 50-75 envelopes without return addresses were sent to the USPS mail recovery center. FEMA and the USPS are working closely to return to FEMA any mail handled in this manner that is still in the system.
"This is an extremely regrettable error, and we took immediate action to fix it," said Brad Gair, federal recovery officer for FEMA. "We are working with the Postal Service to recover envelopes in the system and minimize any delay in assistance to those affected by the closure of the post office box."
Recovery officials stress that those applicants whose IFG documents were halted in the mail stream are not affected in any way by the Nov. 30 registration deadline for the assistance program since they are already registered with FEMA. The error has no effect on FEMA's teleregistration system, which registers new applicants for assistance.
FEMA teleregistration lines will continue to accept new IFG registrations from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. today, Nov. 27, from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 29, and from 7 a.m. to 12 midnight on Sat. Nov. 30, the final day of registration. Teleregistration lines will be closed Thursday, Nov. 28 in observance of Thanksgiving. Those who have not yet registered should call FEMA's teleregistration line at 1-800-462-9029 by Nov. 30 to begin the process.
Under IFG guidelines for the World Trade Center disaster, residents of the five boroughs of New York City may be eligible for assistance for home repairs, replacement of personal property, or reimbursement for air quality equipment -- i.e. air purifiers, air filters, vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters, and repair or replacement of air conditioners.
Last Modified: Monday, 07-Jul-2003 15:45:00