Quantcast

FEMA to help SE Queens on Irene damage

FEMA to help SE Queens on Irene damage
By Ivan Pereira

It has been nearly four weeks since Tropical Storm Irene came through Queens, but residents in heavily affected areas in southeast Queens are still reeling from the storm, elected officials said.

Fortunately, the federal government is now lending a helping hand to those victims.

U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-Jamaica) announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency is offering disaster assistance to residents in the 6th Congressional District, which includes the neighborhoods of Jamaica, St. Albans, Laurelton and the Rockaways.

The storm forced thousands of residents to evacuate the Rockaways and destroyed several properties that were close to the shore, according to Meeks. One home in Broad Channel was completed destroyed when the storm touched down in Queens.

“FEMA disaster assistance will bring significant relief to individuals in our community who suffered loss and damage because of the storm and are already under financial distress,” he said in a statement.

The disaster grants can pay for rent and home repairs, replacement for personal property, and could reimburse medical, storage and other serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance or charities. Small businesses affected by the storm are also eligible for low-interest federal disaster loans from the federal Small Business Administration.

Interested residents need to register with FEMA directly by either calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or by logging on to disasterassistance.gov. Applicants must give the address of the affected property, a description of the damage, insurance information and a Social Security number.

Homeowners may borrow up to $200,000 to repair or replace their primary residence and may borrow up to $40,000 to replace personal property.

“I would like to thank Gov. Andrew Cuomo for working diligently on submitting Queens County to FEMA for assistance,” Meeks said.

FEMA last provided relief to southeast Queens residents in 2007 following a massive rainstorm that produced heavy flooding in the neighborhood. The agency provided financial aid to more than 2,800 residents for that storm.

Reach reporter Ivan Pereira by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at 718-260-4546.