New York, NY – November 15, 2012 – (RealEstateRama) — New York State, Local and Tribal Governments can now apply for FEMA assistance that may enable families to remain in their storm-damaged homes while permanent repairs are completed, or return to their home while repairs are ongoing.
Under the new program announced today, only government entities, not individual homeowners, can apply for the Sheltering and Temporary Essential Power pilot program (STEP), which is intended to reduce the number of individuals in shelters or in the Transitional Shelter Assistance Program.
The program consists of three distinct elements. State, local and tribal governments may select one or more elements of the program:
Residential Electrical Meter Repair is intended to accelerate power restoration to residences with storm-damaged electrical meters when such temporary repairs are a necessary and essential condition precedent to a utility company re-energizing a qualified residence.
Temporary Essential Electrical Measures are intended for those residences for which the electrical utility will not turn the power back on due to disaster-related damage to the residence’s electrical system or lack of inspection.
Rapid Temporary Exterior Repairs are intended as necessary and essential assistance to protect storm-damaged residences from further damage that may present an immediate threat to life and property, and where appropriate, facilitate sheltering in place pending repairs that are more permanent.
