NEW YORK – In the three months since Hurricane Ida struck New York, FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration and the National Flood Insurance Program have approved nearly half a billion dollars to help New Yorkers recover and rebuild.
Close to 36,000 New Yorkers from the Bronx, Brooklyn (Kings County), Queens, Staten Island (Richmond County), Dutchess, Nassau, Orange, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester counties have been approved for FEMA disaster assistance since the Sept. 5 major disaster declaration.
As of Dec. 8. FEMA approved $173.3 million for housing and other essential storm-related needs under the Individual Assistance program. Included in that total was $156.5 million approved for Housing Assistance and $16.7 million approved under FEMA’s Other Needs Assistance program.
The Housing Assistance program provides financial assistance to eligible survivors for temporary housing, rental assistance, home repair and replacement. The Other Needs program provides financial assistance to eligible survivors for medical and dental expenses, childcare, moving and storage expenses, and other disaster-related necessary expenses and serious needs.
FEMA disaster grants are not considered taxable income. Accepting a FEMA grant does not affect an applicant’s Social Security benefits, Medicare, Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or other federal assistance programs.
In the last 90 days, the Small Business Administration has approved 3,676 home and business loans for a total of $177.7 million for Hurricane Ida survivors. SBA’s low-interest disaster loans are the largest source of federal disaster recovery assistance available to homeowners, renters, businesses and small nonprofits.
FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program has paid more than $93.5 million to New Yorkers to close 2,753 claims for flood damage caused when Hurricane Ida struck New York Sept. 1-3.
With flooding becoming more common when storms strike, elevating a furnace or water heater may help reduce flood damage. FEMA may provide funds to eligible homeowners to elevate a destroyed furnace or water heater on a framed platform. Before elevating a furnace or water heater, homeowners should check with their local utility company to find out whether any requirements would limit elevation of these items.
Funds may also be available to elevate or relocate electrical panels. Again, homeowners should check with their utility company before elevating or relocating their electrical panel.
Residents of the Bronx, Brooklyn (Kings County), Queens, Staten Island (Richmond County), Dutchess, Nassau, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester counties have until Tuesday, Jan. 4, to apply for FEMA’s Individual Assistance program and SBA loans. Residents of Orange County, which was recently added to the federal disaster declaration, have until Monday, Jan. 31, to apply for FEMA’s Individual Assistance program and SBA loans. New Yorkers who have already applied for federal assistance for Hurricane Ida need not apply again.
To apply for FEMA assistance, visit DisasterAssistance.gov, use the FEMA mobile app or call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. If you use video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service. Helpline operators are available from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Press 2 for Spanish. Press 3 for an interpreter who speaks your language.
Applying for an SBA loan assures that all available disaster assistance options remain open to you. If you are not eligible for an SBA loan, this may open the door to additional assistance from FEMA.
Applicants may apply online using SBA’s secure website at DisasterLoanAssistance.sba.gov or call SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955. Individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing may call 800-877-8339. For more information, email DisasterCustomerService@SBA.gov.
For official information on New York’s recovery effort, visit fema.gov/disaster/4615. Follow FEMA on Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion2 and at facebook.com/fema.