Recovery Process in Full Swing Assistance Tops $155 Million
Release Date: February 4, 2003
Release Number: 1446-35
» More Information on Guam Super Typhoon Pongsona
Dededo, GUAM -- Federal disaster assistance continues to flow at an accelerated pace to residents, businesses and government and public service entities in the wake of Super Typhoon Pongsona. Total assistance for all categories has topped the $155 Million mark.
RECOVERY OPERATIONS
- Housing Assistance: $32.1 million in housing assistance, such as rental or repair assistance, has been approved.
- Other Needs Assistance: $59.8 million has been approved for personal property, transportation or other miscellaneous items not covered by insurance or other assistance programs.
- U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA): $61 million in low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, and businesses of all sizes has been approved. SBA loan application forms are available at the Disaster Recovery Centers or the SBA Disaster Center in the Micronesia Mall. SBA will not mail applications.
- Disaster Unemployment Assistance: More than $399,000 has been approved to assist those who were unable to work due to the typhoon.
- FEMA has awarded the Government of Guam an immediate services grant totaling more than $330,000 to provide Disaster Crisis Counseling to residents of Guam. The grant will be administered by Catholic Social Services, in collaboration with the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse - Center for Mental Health Services.
- Public Assistance: More than $1 million in federal funds to reimburse government and public service entities for the cost of repairing public property has been approved. FEMA's Public Assistance Program provides funds to government entities and some eligible non-profit organizations that provide essential government services, to help pay for damage caused by Super Typhoon Pongsona.
- Registrations: To date 26,615 applications have been received.
- Disaster Recovery Centers are open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To date, 28,400 people have visited the Centers to follow up on their application and meet with other federal representatives.
- Tuesday, February 18 is the last day FEMA will accept disaster assistance applications from residents and business owner who sustained damage from Super Typhoon Pongsona.
- Home Inspections: Completed home inspections total 22,242 with 221 still pending.
- To Register for Disaster Assistance: Individuals and business owners who suffered losses or damages during Super Typhoon Pongsona are encouraged to register by calling FEMA's toll-free number at 1-800-621-3362 or 1-800-462-7585 for the speech- or hearing- impaired. Hours of registration are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. February 18 is the last day to apply for federal assistance.
- People who have already registered but need to update their information (new telephone numbers, for example) or who have questions about the status of their application, should call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362 or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for the speech- or hearing- impaired. The lines are open from Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- The local multilingual Helpline operates Monday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is available to those who speak Chamorro, Tagalog, Spanish, Cantonese, and Chuukese as their first language. The number to call is 633-9820.
Last Modified: Monday, 14-Apr-2003 12:05:14