Teams Visit Area To Explain Disaster Aid Programs
Release Date: October 9, 2003
Release Number: 1490-43
» More Information on North Carolina Hurricane Isabel
Raleigh, NC -- Teams of state and federal community-relations specialists are visiting North Carolina's eleven newly declared disaster counties to provide information about available disaster assistance programs to businesses, homeowners and renters who suffered uninsured damages and losses due to Hurricane Isabel.
As of Wednesday, October 8, federal and state assistance was made available to residents of Bladen, Columbus, Cumberland, Davidson, Duplin, Durham, Harnett, Johnston, Robeson, Sampson, and Wake counties.
The key programs for individuals and businesses are as follows:
- Rental payments for temporary housing for those whose homes are unlivable. Initial assistance is provided for two months for homeowners and renters. Assistance may be extended if requested after the initial period based on a review of individual applicant requirements. (Source: FEMA funded and administered.)
- Grants for home repairs and replacement of essential household items not covered by insurance to make damaged dwellings safe, sanitary and functional. (Source: FEMA funded and administered.)
- Grants to replace personal property and help meet medical, dental, funeral, transportation and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other federal, state and charitable aid programs. (Source: FEMA funded at 75 percent of total eligible costs.)
- Unemployment payments up to 26 weeks for workers who temporarily lost jobs or work because of the disaster, including those who do not normally qualify for state benefits, such as self-employed individuals and farmers. (Source: FEMA funded; state administered.) State and local governments are responsible for the remaining 25%.
- Low-interest loans of up to $200,000 to repair disaster damaged homes. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to replace personal property. Interest rates for homeowners and renters can be as low as 2.562 percent. Actual loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based on each applicant's financial condition. (Source: U.S. Small Business Administration.)
- Low-interest loans to businesses and non-profit organizations of up to $1.5 million are available to repair damage to real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, etc., and for leasehold improvements. Working capital assistance is also available through SBA's
- Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. A business need not have physical damage to be eligible for economic injury assistance. Interest rates for businesses can be as low as 3.1 percent. (Source: U.S. Small Business Administration.)
- Loans up to $500,000 for farmers, ranchers and aquaculture operators to cover production and property losses, excluding primary residence. (Source: Farm Service Agency, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.)
- Other relief programs: Income tax assistance for filing casualty losses; advisory assistance for legal, veterans benefits and social security matters.
Gracia Szczech, federal coordinating officer for recovery operations, said
that the community-relations teams are an essential on-going part of the disaster
outreach effort.
The teams answer questions about various types of assistance and advise residents
with disaster-related needs that they must first register by calling 800-621-3362
(FEMA) or 800-462-7585 (TTY) for the speech- or hearing-impaired.
According to Dr. Kenneth B. Taylor, the state coordinating officer for recovery operations, "We do whatever it takes to spread the message that disaster help is available, including going door-to-door in affected neighborhoods to let people know that we can help with unmet needs arising from the disaster." He added that the teams would remain in the declared counties as long as they are needed.
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 Citizen Corps, the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Last Modified: Thursday, 09-Oct-2003 17:12:22