FEMA Aid to Connecticut Approaches $5 Million 

About Two Weeks Remain to Register For Aid

Release Date: July 27, 2007
Release Number: 1700-042

» More Information on Connecticut Severe Storms and Flooding

WINDSOR, Conn. -- As the last two Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Connecticut Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) closed on Thursday, federal grants and loans to help individuals and public facilities recover from the April 15 nor'easter reached more than $4.9 million.

To date, disaster aid to Connecticut consists of:

FEMA's first DRC opened in Bridgeport on June 16, three days after a June 13 presidential disaster declaration made FEMA Individual Assistance available to residents of Fairfield, Hartford, Litchfield, Middlesex, New Haven, New London and Windham counties.  Recovery specialists assisted applicants with registration for aid and provided information about assistance. In all, DRCs operated in 10 locations providing assistance to nearly 1,000 visitors. 

FEMA officials urge anyone with losses from the April flooding who has not already done so to register for assistance through FEMA's toll-free registration line, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or online at www.fema.gov.  Individuals may continue to register for assistance through August 13.

To date, 2,207 individuals have registered for assistance. Disaster aid registrations by counties are as follows:

More than $2 million in grants to individuals and households has been approved by FEMA including temporary rental assistance for those whose homes have been severely damaged, funds to make essential repairs and money to help pay for transportation and to replace damaged household items and personal property.

Housing inspections are a key step in the approval process for disaster aid.  Inspectors examine damaged properties of those who register for disaster assistance to confirm eligibility for assistance. Through Thursday, 1,942 housing inspections are complete.

FEMA Assistance to Local Governments

Many local government agencies are benefiting from the federal and state partnership in Connecticut.  The FEMA Public Assistance program underway in Fairfield and Litchfield counties assists state and local government agencies and private, non profit organizations that serve a public purpose. FEMA provides 75 percent of the funding for eligible projects.

The agency has received 174 requests for grants to fund repairs of damaged infrastructure and to reimburse public agencies for expenses incurred responding to the April 15-16 storm. FEMA has obligated funding for 158 of these projects totaling $1,340,550. The remaining requests are under review.

Small Business Administration Services

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved more than $1.5 million in low interest, long-term disaster recovery loans. Homeowners, renters, non-farm businesses of all sizes and private non-profit organizations are eligible for SBA loans to repair or replace property damaged or destroyed by the April flood when losses are not fully covered by insurance or other aid.

SBA issued 1,920 home loan applications and 281 business loan applications through Thursday, July 26.  The agency has approved $1,471,700 in home loans and $40,100 in business loans.

Many Connecticut residents who registered for aid must complete and send in the SBA loan application as a step in the process to become eligible for some types of FEMA grants and other assistance.  Those who do not send in the SBA application will be disqualified from some forms of aid.

Representatives of the SBA are staffing Disaster Loan Outreach Centers  in Danbury and Greenwich Monday through Friday through August 10 to answer questions and help individuals complete their low-interest loan applications.

City Hall
155 Deer Hill Avenue
Danbury, CT  06810
Hours:  8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

West Greenwich Civic Center
449 Pemberwick Road
Greenwich, CT  06831
Hours:  8 a.m. - 5:00 p.m

FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

Last Modified: Monday, 30-Jul-2007 09:00:38