Individual Disaster Assistance Tops $71.8 Million
Release Date: November 12, 2004
Release Number: 1555-066
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HARRISBURG, Pa. -- More than $71.8 million in disaster recovery grants and disaster loans has been approved for Pennsylvania individuals and business owners who suffered losses as a result of flooding from September tropical storms Frances, Ivan and Jeanne, according to figures from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Tropical Storm Frances hit Pennsylvania Sept. 8 and 9, while flooding from Tropical Storm Ivan began Sept. 17. The incident period for Ivan flooding was extended to cover damage from Tropical Storm Jeanne, so did not end until Oct. 1. President Bush declared both events major disasters on Sept. 19.
The deadline to apply for federal disaster assistance for the September storms is Thursday, Nov. 18. To register, call FEMA’s toll-free teleregistration number: 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-621-7585 for the speech or hearing impaired. The lines are open from 6 a.m. to midnight daily. Applicants can also register online at www.fema.gov.
The following is an overview of total recovery activities for the disasters as of close of business Nov. 11.
INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE
Homeowners, residents and businesses in the following counties are eligible for disaster assistance: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Blair, Bradford, Bucks, Butler, Cameron, Carbon, Centre, Chester, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Columbia, Crawford, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Elk, Erie, Fulton, Franklin, Greene, Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, Juniata, Lackawanna, Lawrence, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Lycoming, Mifflin, Monroe, Montgomery, Montour, Northampton, Northumberland, Perry, Philadelphia, Pike, Potter, Schuylkill, Somerset, Snyder, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Westmoreland, Wyoming and York.
- 32,290 individuals from the 58 designated counties have called to register for assistance.
- 23,126 of 24,632 home inspections issued have been completed.
- 16,311 Housing Assistance grants have been approved, totaling $41.2 million. These grants help meet the temporary housing needs of applicants displaced from their residences because of the disaster.
- 7,121 Other Needs Assistance (ONA) grants have been approved, totaling $18.3 million. The ONA program is funded by FEMA and the state and is administered by the state. Grants may be made for disaster-related medical, dental, personal property, transportation and other eligible expenses. To be considered for an ONA grant, an applicant must first submit a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loan and be denied.
- 397 SBA low-interest disaster loans have been approved, totaling $13.6 million
- 25,306 SBA low-interest disaster loan applications have been issued: 20,632 to homeowners and 4,674 to business owners. 3,382 applications have been received.
- In the beginning of the disasters, voluntary agencies served more than 84,408 meals to victims. More than 3,959 people were temporarily housed in 84 emergency shelters. There are no shelters open now.
- During the recovery period, 20 Disaster Recovery Centers were open throughout the Commonwealth to provide personal assistance and information to disaster victims, with direct access to local, state and federal specialists. One still remains open, in Carnegie, Allegheny County. A total of 7,482 people have visited the centers.
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
- 1,370 Requests for Public Assistance have come from the 51 counties eligible for Public Assistance, the federal program that reimburses governmental entities and certain eligible non-profit organizations for disaster-related damages incurred between Sept. 17 and Oct.1 (tropical storms Ivan and Jeanne).
- 665 kick-off meetings have been held to begin the Public Assistance process.
- More than $1.3 million has already been obligated for Public Assistance.
HAZARD MITIGATION
- All counties in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP).
- The HMGP provides assistance to state and local governments for actions taken to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural hazards.
- To acquaint individuals with steps they can take to prevent future damage from flooding, FEMA and PEMA experts set up workshops in home improvement stores throughout the commonwealth.
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 the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Last Modified: Friday, 12-Nov-2004 18:20:38