Federal Disaster Funds Available to Aid Northampton County Residents, Businesses
News Release: September 20, 2004
Contact: Janice Osborne, Director-Communications and Marketing
(610) 865-4400, ext. 262
The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today that President Bush has declared a major disaster for Pennsylvania, opening the way for the use of federal disaster funds to help people recover from the effects of Tropical Depression Ivan.
The declaration covers damage to private property from the tropical depression beginning on September 17.
The following 19 counties have been designated eligible for aid to stricken residents and business owners: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Centre, Clearfield, Cumberland, Dauphin, Indiana, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lycoming, Northampton, Perry, Schuylkill, Susquehanna, Washington, Westmoreland and Wyoming.
Affected residents and business owners in the designated counties can begin the disaster application process by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will be available 24-hours a day, seven days a week until further notice.
The assistance, to be coordinated by FEMA, can include grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses. Low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration also will be available to cover residential and business losses not fully compensated by insurance.
According to a press release issued this morning, federal funds will be provided for the state and affected local governments in the 19 designated counties to pay 75 percent of the eligible costs for debris removal and emergency services related to the storm. Federal funding also will be available to the state on a cost-shared basis for approved projects that reduce future disaster risks.
More counties and additional forms of assistance for state and local government agencies may be designated as soon as damage assessments can be completed in the affected area.
For more information, call FEMA toll-free at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or visit www.fema.com.
