Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today alerted residents and businesses in Chautauqua, Erie and Cattaraugus
Counties that they must apply for federal assistance in the next two
months in order to be eligible for federal aid. Western New Yorkers who
suffered damage from the flooding in August must register with the
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) by November 4. For a
low-interest loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA),
applications for a Physical Loan are due by November 3 or an Economic
Injury Loan by June 4.
“Western
New York homeowners and small businesses were hit hard by the
devastating summer storms,” Senator Gillibrand said. “Individual
Assistance will go a long way to provide the aid necessary to help our
community get back on their feet.”
In August, Western New York was hit hard by severe
storms that destroyed homes and businesses throughout Chautauqua, Erie
and Cattaraugus Counties. Last week FEMA agreed to provide both
Individual Assistance and Public Assistance.
FEMA
Individual Assistance is available for those whose homes that were
damaged in the August floods. Such aid includes temporary housing,
repair, and construction. The maximum aid amount is $30,300 per
household for damages not covered by insurance.
The
FEMA Public Assistance program provides assistance to State and local
governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for emergency
work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities.
To
register for FEMA assistance, residents can call (800)-621-3362. The
hearing impaired can call via TTY (800) 462-7585. Both lines are open
Monday through Sunday, 7 AM to 1 AM. Registration may be completed
online at http://www.fema.gov/assistance/index.shtm.
The
SBA provides low-interest loans to homeowners, renters, businesses and
organizations to repair or replace property, equipment, inventory and
business assets that were damaged in a disaster. Registration may be
completed online at http://www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance/index.html.
If anyone needs additional assistance, they can contact Senator Gillibrand’s office at 716-854-9725.