PATCHOGUE, NY – September 5, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Suffolk County homeowners and businesses still may be eligible for Individual Assistance (IA) aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for damage caused by Tropical Storm Irene, Congressman Tim Bishop announced today. FEMA has already approved Suffolk County for Public Assistance (PA) disaster aid, under which state and local governments can be reimbursed for costs incurred in responding to the storm.
Bishop said reports that Suffolk had been denied individual aid were premature and that approval may be forthcoming in the future if the county meets certain criteria regarding the severity, magnitude and impact of the disaster. He noted that it is vital that homeowners and businesses be as vigilant as possible in reporting damage in order to have the best chance of qualifying for assistance.
“I will continue to push hard for federal aid to repair the significant damage in Suffolk County from this powerful storm, and will work with my partners in local government to make the strongest possible case for individual assistance to affected homeowners and businesses,” said Bishop. “I urge people to communicate with Suffolk County Fire Rescue and Emergency Services to report their damage.”
Suffolk County told Bishop’s office that it plans to begin cataloging the costs of damage caused by the storm after Labor Day. Eight Upstate counties received expedited approval of individual assistance yesterday because the widespread flooding damage in those areas obviously met the threshold for factors including: concentration of damages in a geographic area, large numbers of injuries and deaths, large scale disruption of normal community functions and services, emergency needs such as extended or widespread loss of power or water, and the location of special-needs populations in the affected areas.
On Tuesday, Congressman Bishop joined a coalition of 20 Members of Congress from New York urging President Obama to approve both IA and PA for all 26 counties identified in Governor Cuomo’s request for federal disaster assistance.
“Given the scope of the devastation caused by Hurricane Irene, we appreciate that you approved several of the requested counties for Individual and Public Assistance, and ask that you approve all counties requested by Governor Cuomo. The assistance of FEMA and other federal agencies is urgently needed to prevent further infrastructure damage, ensure public health and safety, restore public utilities and transportation systems, and recover from tremendous public and private property damage,” the Members of Congress wrote.
