Deadlines to Register for Disaster Aid Are Less Than Two Weeks Away 

Release Date: August 23, 2006
Release Number: 1650-062

» More Information on New York Severe Storms and Flooding

New York State and federal officials remind those affected by the June floods that they have less than two weeks left to register for disaster assistance.

Register before the deadlines for FEMA and the State program, even if you think your losses will probably be covered by insurance or in some other way. This is especially true for business owners who may qualify for a state grant but still could use a low-interest loan from the Small Business Administration.

Registrations for federal aid must be received by Friday, September 1, 2006.

Registrations for the New York State Individual and Family Grant Program must be received by Tuesday, September 5, 2006.

Victims of the June floods need to make two phone calls for assistance:

The registration period and the deadline apply to the major federal disaster declaration on July 1 that enabled residents and business owners in Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Herkimer, Montgomery, Oneida, Orange, Otsego, Schoharie, Sullivan, Tioga and Ulster counties to register for State and federal recovery aid.

Representatives from the New York State Department of Labor, the Empire State Development Corporation, New York State Emergency Management Office (SEMO), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will be at the following locations Monday through Friday this week from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. to assist flood victims:

State and federal personnel at these centers will answer program questions, assist individuals in determining the status of their applications, and help resolve application issues.

New York State and FEMA join the Small Business Administration (SBA) in urging New Yorkers to complete and send in the SBA application. The SBA disaster loans are the primary source of long-term recovery aid.

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, an applicant must complete an SBA loan application to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

FEMA will process applications for housing assistance regardless of whether the applicant has applied for an SBA loan and eligibility determinations for applicants requesting FEMA’s temporary housing assistance will not be held up because the applicant has or has not filled out an SBA application.

FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, economic status or retaliation. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, contact FEMA at 800-621-FEMA (3362) TTY: 800-462-7585. If suspicious of any abuse of FEMA programs please contact the fraud hotline at 1-800-323-8603.

Last Modified: Wednesday, 23-Aug-2006 15:43:53