Release date:
November 8, 2012
Release Number:
HQ-12-143
More than $327 million in Individual Assistance Approved for Disaster Survivors
WASHINGTON -- At the direction of President Barack Obama, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) continues to lead the federal government's effort to provide assistance and support to states affected by Hurricane Sandy, ensuring the federal family and its public and private partners continue to provide all available resources to support state, local, and tribal communities in affected areas.
As FEMA and its federal partners continue to work with the states in support of their recovery efforts, the top priority is providing access to shelter for residents whose homes were severely damaged or destroyed by the storm. At the requests of New York and New Jersey, FEMA continues to deliver commodities including food, water, blankets, generators and others resources to distribution points across the region impacted by Sandy, and FEMA continues to pre-position additional resources and supplies to ensure they are in place if needed by our state and local partners to respond to the coastal low.
Many voluntary agencies also continue to provide services to Hurricane Sandy survivors, including providing shelter, meals, and clean up supplies. Due to the cold weather conditions, state and local governments continue to operate warming stations. For more information, contact your local officials or further information can be found on websites including: http://www.dhses.ny.gov/oem/ ; http://www.nyc.gov/html/misc/html/2012/warming_ctr.html; http://nj.gov/nj/home/features/spotlight/hurricane_sandy.shtml; http://nj211.org/hurricane.cfm and www.ct.gov/sandy .
"We continue to support our state, local and federal partners to help the survivors of Hurricane Sandy," said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. "FEMA has provided more than $327 million in housing and other assistance needs to impacted residents and business owners in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey. Survivors and small businesses can register for federal assistance by phone at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), via mobile devices at m.fema.gov or online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov."
FEMA is one part of a large team that is working together to support the states in meeting the housing needs of disaster survivors. This joint effort is comprised of housing and technical experts from the states, FEMA, Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Small Business Administration (SBA), voluntary agencies and others. Working together, the team will work closely with state-led Housing Task Forces as they establish housing priorities; seek ways to make the greatest use of existing housing resources, such as apartments and rental units; enlist voluntary agencies to make minor repairs so survivors can remain in their homes and investigate other temporary housing options suitable for the area. As extensive work continues to restore power, open roadways and remove debris so that homes can begin to be repaired or rebuilt, our federal partners are:
USACE will providing technical assistance to local communities who identify areas where temporary home repairs, such as covering broken windows or holes in roofs, can help residents move back or stay in their home until more extensive repairs can be made;
SBA is working to help individuals and businesses apply for low interest loans so that they can more quickly rebuild or repair their damaged homes and replace lost property;
The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) are waiving low-income housing tax credit rules that would prohibit owners of low-income housing from providing housing to survivors of Hurricane Sandy who do not qualify as low-income. This means that there will be an increased availability of housing for disaster survivors and their families
As part of the team, FEMA has more than 5,300 FEMA personnel deployed to support response and recovery operations and is actively taking registration information through our 24 hour call centers. As of 3 p.m., more than 324,811 individuals in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey have registered for assistance, and more than $327 million has been approved in FEMA Assistance. 13 Disaster Recovery Centers are open in New York, seven in New Jersey and seven in Connecticut and more continue to open. 15 Mobile DRCs are also open and serving disaster survivors in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Additional disaster recovery centers are being planned. Specialists from the state, FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are on hand to answer questions and provide information on the types of assistance available to survivors. To find a disaster recovery center location, check out the disaster recovery center locator at FEMA.gov/disaster-recovery-centers or by mobile phone at m.fema.gov. You may also text DRC and a Zip Code to 43362 (4FEMA).
FEMA has more than 1,900 housing inspectors on the ground assessing disaster damages and continues to approve assistance for Transitional Shelter Assistance (hotel/motel assistance), rental and home repair assistance, and financial assistance for other essential needs (such as disaster-related medical needs, replacement of lost clothing, furniture and other necessary items).
To date, the President has declared that major disasters exist in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Rhode Island and emergency declarations have been made in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia and West Virginia.
Federal and state personnel are on the ground to conduct joint preliminary damage assessments in several states. These assessments are designed to give the governor of each state a better picture of damages, and to determine if a request for further federal support is needed. Other assessments may be scheduled as needed and requested.
