PHILADELPHIA — The Federal Emergency Management Agency has paid out nearly $19 million so far to victims of Hurricane Sandy, primarily for temporary rentals or other housing.
More than 85,000 people have applied for assistance, FEMA administrator Craig Fugate said Friday.
Fugate said the focus of FEMA’s efforts now, in addition to helping victims get shelter, was to increase supplies of gasoline and to restore power.
The Department of Homeland Security is temporarily waiving some maritime rules to allow foreign oil tankers coming from the Gulf of Mexico to enter Northeastern ports to help ease the fuel shortages.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said she is temporarily waiving the Jones Act, which prohibits international cargo ships from transporting oil between U.S. ports.
The American Red Cross said it has 30 shelters open in New Jersey to house storm victims, and four mobile kitchens are operating in hard-hit areas, capable of serving 80,000 meals a day.
FEMA said it has more than 2,300 workers in the storm area.
After a resident applies for assistance, a FEMA inspector will be assigned to assess the damage and determine what assistance the resident qualifies for. Then a check can be issued, or in the case of business owners, a referral made to the Small Business Administration for low-interest loan assistance.
These are the kinds of assistance available from FEMA:
Rental payments for temporary housing for those whose homes are unlivable. Initial assistance may be provided for up to three months for homeowners and at least one month for renters. Assistance may be extended if requested after the initial period based on a review of individual applicant requirements.
Grants for home repairs and replacement of essential household items not covered by insurance to make damaged dwellings safe, sanitary, and functional.
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.
Unemployment payments up to 26 weeks for workers who temporarily lost jobs because of the disaster and who do not qualify for state benefits, such as self-employed individuals.
Low-interest loans to cover residential losses not fully compensated by insurance. Loans are available up to $200,000 for the primary residence and $40,000 for personal property, including renter losses. Loans are available up to $2 million for business property losses not fully compensated by insurance.
Loans up to $2 million for small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private, nonprofit 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.
Loans up to $500,000 for farmers, ranchers, and aquaculture operators to cover production and property losses, excluding primary residence.
Distributed by MCT Information Services
this is the reason the federal gov’t. exists,and once again the federal gov’t. fails.this is obama’s katrina x 10. bloomburg is no better. the fact he even thought about having the marathon proves he is useless. he only cancelled it because of political pressure. the big gov’t. machine has no idea what it takes to really help people but they look good talking about it.we have so many assets that could have been deployed but the gov’t. waits for applications before they help.f#@$%ng pathetic. get in and feed ,cloth and house the victims
Do you know what government is? These disaster programs were created by intelligent people who knew that suffering could be avoided by preparing people and recovery could be quicker, restoring economic activity and minimizing long term effects. When I look at the thousands of people that were involved in this effort, I’m grateful for the intelligence and forward thinking of the leaders who created these programs and leaders like Obama and Christie and all of the people who’s efforts saved lives and reduced suffering. But, that’s just me. I like my fellow citizens.
What do you like? I would really like to know because you seem to think that you are smarter than all of them.
Sounds like people are being taken care of. You just want to repeat Romney’s silly talk.
Your to.foolish to respond to..you would nite get it anyway
Foolishness is your best quality it appears. Your humor is bland.
LOL…usesless propaganda
FEMA is a joke and an absolute waste of taxpayer funds
Our country existed just fine and dandy for the 204 years prior to the creation of FEMA and if it wasn’t for the moronic order of an equally moronic president named Carter, we’d be doing just as well without it now.
Get the money back to the states who actually know how best to reach out and help their neighbors!
Ahh yes, the good old days when a storm like sandy would have killed thousands, wiped out whole cities and left people to starve. Do you seriously believe that Katrina could have been handled by the state of Louisiana? Do you enjoy seeing people suffer?
Are you that ignorant to think that years ago thousands would have been killed…no…they were smarter then..the.did not build on play sand right off the waters edge!
Even Gov. Christie of New Jersey is accepting the money, with praise for Obama. Get real!
This is going along much better than Katrina’s aftermath.
Duh ..area is nite 8-10ft below sea level! and to liberals…obama can part the water….wrong!
derp
They’ll cut FEMA before they cut subsidies to big oil — that’s disgusting and immoral.
Vote Obama.