Individual Disaster Aid Exceeds $4.24 Million
Release Date: November 13, 2006
Release Number: 1665-008
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BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The following is an update of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and New York State Emergency Management Office (SEMO) recovery activities as of close of business Sunday, November 12, 2006.
- More than 14,600 individuals (homeowners and renters) have applied for assistance in the four counties designated for Individual Assistance. The application breakdown by county is Erie, more than 13,700; Genesee, more than 150; Niagara, nearly 600; and Orleans, more than 120.
- More than $4.24 million in grants have been approved through the Individuals and Household Program. (This assistance may be for temporary disaster housing assistance; repairing disaster-damaged, uninsured homes to a safe, sanitary and functional condition; and grants for serious, disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other assistance programs, such as medical, dental, funeral, personal property and transportation expenses.)
- More than 10,800 low-interest disaster loan applications have been issued by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), including more than 9,300 for homeowners and renters and more than 1,400 for businesses. SBA officials encourage anyone who has received an application to return it as soon as possible to be considered for all forms of disaster assistance available. • Nearly 750 people have visited the Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs). Recovery officials urge applicants to take advantage of the opportunity to meet face-to-face with representatives of the state, federal, and voluntary agencies, as well as loan officers from the SBA who are available at the centers to answer questions and provide recovery information.
- DRCs are open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday at the following:
- Tonawanda – Brighton Golf Club, 70 Brompton Road
- Buffalo - The Olmsted Center for the Visually Impaired, 1160 Main Street
To apply for assistance, call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), or for the speech or hearing impaired TTY 1-800-462-7585. Disaster victims may also register online at www.fema.gov.
FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan.
However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA loan officers to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.
FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident, initiates mitigation activities and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA works closely with state and local emergency managers, law enforcement personnel, firefighters and other first responders. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 14-Nov-2006 12:57:05