NEW YORK – Eight months after the remnants of Hurricane Ida damaged homes, businesses and infrastructure across New York state, FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration and the National Flood Insurance Program have approved nearly 800 million dollars to help New Yorkers recover and rebuild.
More than 41,000 households in the Bronx, Brooklyn (Kings County), Queens, Staten Island (Richmond County), Dutchess, Nassau, Orange, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester counties have been approved for FEMA disaster assistance since the September 2021 disaster declaration.
As of May 9th, FEMA approved $219.2 million for housing assistance and other essential storm-related needs under the Individual Assistance program. This amount includes $197.2 million approved for temporary housing, rental assistance, home repair and replacement for eligible survivors and $21.9 million approved for other needs assistance which can help eligible survivors pay for medical and dental expenses, childcare, and other disaster-related expenses.
The Small Business Administration has approved 4,046 home and business loans for a total of more than $213.3 million to help homeowners, renters and businesses recover from remnants of Hurricane Ida. SBA disaster loans are the largest source of federal disaster recovery funds for survivors. FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program has paid more than $138.9 million to New York policyholders and closed 2,779 claims for flood damage caused by the storm.
Through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, administered through New York State, funding opportunities are still available for projects supporting hazard mitigation planning and long-term mitigation measures to enhance the State’s resiliency. New York State’s HMGP application period remains available for all eligible sub applicants through June 1. State agencies, local, tribal and territorial governments may apply for a grant. Homeowners and businesses cannot apply directly to the program; however, a local community may apply for funding on their behalf.
More information is available through the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services: https://www.dhses.ny.gov/dr-4615-hazard-mitigation-grant-program-funding
For information about FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, visit: fema.gov/grants/mitigation/hazard-mitigation
For official information on New York’s recovery effort, visit fema.gov/disaster/4615. Follow FEMA on Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion2 and at facebook.com/fema.