The following excerpt is from an e-mail sent out by the Federal Emergency Management Agency:
"HARRISBURG, Pa. - More than one-half billion dollars in federal assistance to date is supporting the commonwealth's recovery from Irene and Lee, announced officials of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.
As of Jan. 29, disaster assistance included:
- $138 million Individual Assistance grants approved;
- $124.9 million in housing assistance including temporary housing, home repairs, and personal property losses and
- $12.8 million in dental, medical, and funeral costs and other serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance
- $90,336,700 in low-interest disaster loans approved by the SBA
- $267,678,133 in National Flood Insurance Program claims
- $642,018 in Disaster Unemployment Assistance
- $8,944,049 in Public Assistance grants obligated
Additional aid though is forthcoming: Public Assistance (PA) grants are now being obligated to repair or replace taxpayer-owned infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, utilities, schools, and similar facilities. There are an estimated 6,000 projects from among 1,900 applicants that could result in additional federal funding of more than $200 million.
"Pennsylvanians have taken the important first steps toward renewing their lives and property," said FEMA's Federal Coordinating Officer Thomas J. McCool. "Much more though remains to be done. It will be a very long time before the effects of Irene and Lee are forgotten."
"Pennsylvanians have taken the important first steps toward renewing their lives and property," said FEMA's Federal Coordinating Officer Thomas J. McCool. "Much more though remains to be done. It will be a very long time before the effects of Irene and Lee are forgotten."
