Federal Aid Programs For New York Disaster Recovery 

Release Date: August 31, 2011
Release Number: HQ-11-166Factsheet

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Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Obama’s major disaster declaration issued for the State of New York.

Assistance for Affected Individuals and Families Can Include as Required:

• Rental payments for temporary housing for those whose homes are unlivable.  Initial assistance may be provided for two months for homeowners and renters.  Assistance may be extended if requested after the initial period based on a review of individual applicant requirements.  (Source: FEMA funded and administered.)
• Grants for home repairs and replacement of essential household items not covered by insurance to make damaged dwellings safe, sanitary and functional.  (Source: FEMA funded and administered.)
• Grants to replace personal property and help meet medical, dental, funeral, transportation and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other federal, state and charitable aid programs.   (Source: FEMA funded at 75 percent of total eligible costs; 25 percent funded by the state.)
• Unemployment payments up to 26 weeks from the date of the disaster declaration for workers who temporarily lost jobs because of the disaster and who do not qualify for state benefits, such as self-employed individuals.  (Source: FEMA funded; state administered.)
• Low-interest loans to cover residential losses not fully compensated by insurance.  Loans available up to $200,000 for primary residence; $40,000 for personal property, including renter losses.  Loans available up to $2 million for business property losses not fully compensated by insurance.  (Source: U.S. Small Business Administration.)
• Loans up to $2 million for small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes that have suffered disaster-related cash flow problems and need funds for working capital to recover from the disaster's adverse economic impact.  This loan in combination with a property loss loan cannot exceed a total of $2 million. (Source: U.S. Small Business Administration.)
• Loans up to $500,000 for farmers, ranchers and aquaculture operators to cover production and property losses, excluding primary residence.  (Source: Farm Service Agency, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.)
• Other relief programs: Crisis counseling for those traumatized by the disaster; income tax assistance for filing casualty losses; advisory assistance for legal, veterans benefits and social security matters.

Assistance for the State and Affected Tribal and Local Governments Can Include:

• Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for repairing or replacing damaged public facilities, such as roads, bridges, utilities, buildings, schools, recreational areas and similar publicly owned property, as well as certain private non-profit organizations that provide essential governmental services. (Source of funding: FEMA funded, state administered.)
• Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for removing debris and for emergency measures taken to save lives and protect property and public health.  (Source of funding: FEMA funded, state administered.)
• Payment of not more than 75 percent of the approved costs for hazard mitigation projects undertaken by state and local governments to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural or technological disasters.  (Source of funding: FEMA funded, state administered.)

How to Apply for Assistance:

• Those in the counties designated for assistance to affected residents and business owners can begin the disaster application processby registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Disaster assistance applicants, who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362. .
• The toll-free telephone numbers are available from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) Monday through Sundayuntil further notice.  Applicants registering for aid should be prepared to provide basic information about themselves (name, permanent address, phone number), insurance coverage and any other information to help substantiate losses.
• Application procedures for local governments will be explained at a series of applicant briefings with locations to be announced in the affected area by State recovery officials. Approved public repair projects are paid through the state from funding provided by FEMA.

Follow FEMA online at blog.fema.gov, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate's activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema.

The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications. 

FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Last Modified: Wednesday, 31-Aug-2011 09:55:08

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As directed by Governor Andrew Cuomo, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has issued an Emergency Authorization for 30 days so that local governments and private landowners can expedite emergency construction, repairs and maintenance due to the damage caused by Hurricane Irene in order to protect life, health and property.

The Emergency Authorization will cover the areas located in the Department’s Region 5 (e.g. Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Saratoga, Warren and Washington counties – largely within the North Country and Capital District ESD Regions) in addition to the Department’s Regions that are responsible for the Catskills, Mid-Hudson Valley, the rest of the North Country, Capital District and the Mohawk Valley areas. The emergency authorization will allow communities and landowners to immediately undertake steps to repair damage caused by the hurricane without the need for an individual permit. Anyone performing work under the emergency authorization should notify DEC as soon as possible (preferably before the work is performed) of the location and scope of the work being performed.

DEC staff will also be available to issue General Permits in the field after consultation with municipalities and landowners and will be on hand to explain guidelines to them. Obtaining General Permits helps ensure proper financial reimbursement to landowners and municipalities through Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). FEMA historically has required entities to obtain a state permit when performing emergency work to ensure that the work is done in an environmentally sound manner. General permits issued by DEC and also the field visits are intended to help ensure that the emergency response work undertaken by municipalities and individuals in the State’s protected streams does not exacerbate the flood risks of upstream and downstream communities, landowners and municipalities now and in the future.

For more information on the Emergency Authorization and General Permits, go to the DEC Hurricane Irene website link at http://www.dec,ny,gov/permits/6061.html. Please feel free to contact Michael McMurray (518.8897.1234) or Marc Migliore (518.623.1281) in our Permits office with any questions or concerns about this process. We look forward to assisting you and your community.