Federal/State Disaster Assistance Tops $1 Billion
Release Date: February 4, 2002
Release Number: 1391-59
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New York, NY -- Federal funds distributed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and state of New York have reached more than $1 billion for the World Trade Center attack, state and federal recovery officials said today.
"Although the amount committed to date represents significant federal funding, this only represents the beginning of President Bush and the federal government's commitment to ensure New York City's recovery from the World Trade Center attack," said FEMA Director Joe M. Allbaugh. "There is much left to do, and we will continue to work closely with our federal, state, city and voluntary agency partners to speed assistance to those still struggling to overcome losses from this terrible crime."
State Emergency Management Office (SEMO) Director Edward F. Jacoby said, "Significant inroads have been made toward the World Trade Center attack recovery. Debris removal is a particular success story, with more than 1 million tons removed thus far. But the recovery road ahead is still long and arduous. Governor Pataki and the state of New York are committed to helping New York City and its residents to quickly reach the end of that road."
Some of the highlights of those commitments are:
- The FEMA Disaster Housing Program has provided nearly $28.2 million in grants to 5,500 households. The temporary housing assistance is available for people who cannot or should not live in their disaster-damaged dwelling, giving them the means to make it livable or find alternative housing.
- For those facing foreclosure or eviction because of disaster-related significant loss of income, the Mortgage and Rental Assistance (MRA) program has provided more than $5.9 million thus far to eligible applicants.
- The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved over $257.9 million in low-interest disaster loans to more than 3,200 businesses, homeowners and renters.
- FEMA and SEMO have committed more than $3.7 million to the state-run Individual and Family Grant Program (IFG) to assist affected households with essential and necessary needs unmet by other disaster assistance programs. IFG grants may pay for replacement of lost personal possessions or transportation needs.
- The Department of Justice, through the New York Crime Victims Board, has provided $5.5 million in grants for the reimbursement of medical bills, personal property or mental health counseling to victims of the WTC attack and their families.
- FEMA, in coordination with the New York Department of Labor, has provided more than $4.8 million of Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) to 2,350 workers and business owners who lost employment as a result of the WTC attack. DUA assists those not covered by the regular unemployment program, such as the self-employed.
- Nearly 33,000 individuals were assisted with $3.8 million in Disaster Food Stamps.
- FEMA approved a $22.7 million grant to the state of New York for its crisis counseling program, Project Liberty, administered by the New York State Office of Mental Health (NYOMH).
- FEMA has funded $245 million in emergency assistance payments for recovery activities such as activation of the Urban Search and Rescue teams to work at the WTC site and additional mission assignments through other federal agencies.
- FEMA has approved more than $428 million under its Public Assistance Program. These funds will go to the state of New York to reimburse state and local government agencies for costs incurred responding to and recovering from losses associated with the WTC site attack. FEMA is funding 100 percent of this program, which is administered by the State of New York. The majority of the funding to date has been for debris removal and emergency protective measures at the WTC site. Additional public assistance projects are expected to be funded in the coming months.
To date, FEMA has registered more than 58,000 people seeking disaster assistance through its toll-free registration telephone number, 1-800-462-9029. Hours of operation are between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. More than 48,000 people have called FEMA's toll-free Helpline, 1-800-525-0321, with questions about the status of their application or to seek information about additional disaster assistance. Those applicants with a speech or hearing impairment may call TTY: 1-800-462-7585 for registration or Helpline services. More than 85,000 people have visited one of the city-state-federal Disaster Assistance Service Centers.
The deadline for individuals and families to register for most federal, state and city disaster assistance programs is March 11, 2002.
Last Modified: Monday, 06-Oct-2003 11:10:39