FEMA Approves Individual Assistance For Broome & Chenango Counties

FEMA Approves Individual Assistance For Broome & Chenango Counties

U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) was informed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) this afternoon that the agency had approved disaster assistance for individual residents who suffered damages in the November 16-17 storm. Hinchey wrote to FEMA Director R. David Paulison last week in the wake of the agency's approval of aid for municipalities, urging that FEMA swiftly approve aid for residents under the Individual Assistance program. The approval of Individual Assistance also triggers an aid package for small business owners.

"This news is a welcome holiday gift for the many residents who incurred severe damage to their homes and property in November, some of whom had not yet recovered from the summer's tragic floods," Hinchey said. "The people of the Southern Tier, local governments and businesses have done a remarkable job recovering from yet another devastating weather incident, but the federal government needs to do its part. I had hoped, especially given the severe and uncompensated damages thousands of people are still facing from the June floods, that FEMA would act sooner to approve aid for individuals and businesses, but I am relieved to finally get this news."

On December 12, FEMA issued a federal disaster declaration for eight upstate New York counties that experienced severe flooding, mudslides and infrastructure failure from heavy rainfall on November 16 and 17. However, that declaration only made county and municipal governments eligible for aid, not individuals or small businesses. Today's approval of individual assistance in the two hardest-hit counties, Broome and Chenango, allows residents to apply for federal aid. In addition, once FEMA approves individual assistance, the Small Business Administration would begin to offer aid to small businesses.

http://www.house.gov/list/press/ny22_hinchey/morenews/122206FEMAindividualassistance.html