Disaster Aid For October Storms Exceeds $3.5 Million
Officials from the New York State Emergency Management Office (SEMO) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today that more than $3.7 million has been approved to aid residents of Erie, Genesee, Niagara and Orleans counties who suffered losses as a result of the October 12-13 severe storms and flooding.
In the two weeks since President Bush’s disaster declaration of October 24, nearly 13,000 persons have called the FEMA toll-free registration number to seek help.
Of the $3.7 million, more than $3.1 million has been approved for nearly 2,400 households through the FEMA Housing Assistance Program. The assistance is in the form of temporary housing and grants to uninsured or underinsured individuals to perform minor repairs to make homes safe and habitable.
To date, nearly $600,000 has been approved for more than 1000 households under the New York State/FEMA Other Needs Assistance Program (ONA) that provides grants for serious disaster-related needs, not covered by insurance or other assistance programs, such as medical, dental, funeral, personal property, and transportation expenses. Rights Reserved.