Federal Disaster Aid Extended to Nassau

Federal disaster aid has been extended to Nassau County, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Thursday.

Nassau residents and small businesses can apply for assistance from these programs: the Individuals and Households Program, Crisis Counseling, Disaster Unemployment Assistance, USDA food coupons and distribution, USDA food commodities, Disaster Legal Services, the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and Small Business Administration disaster loans.

“I am pleased that FEMA is moving quickly to further assess the damages and needs of New Yorkers impacted by Hurricane Irene,” Cuomo said. “I urge residents and small businesses who suffered losses to take the first step on the road to recovery by calling FEMA’s registration number – 1-800-621-3362. If you think you may be eligible you must register with FEMA and you should make that call today.”

Added Nassau Executive Ed Mangano: “I thank FEMA for acting so quickly on behalf of Nassau residents and I look forward to continuing to work with them in the coming days and weeks.”

President Obama also approved expedited major federal disaster declaration on Wednesday. The counties currently eligible for assistance are as follows:

• Individual Assistance (Assistance to individuals and households): Albany, Delaware, Dutchess, Essex, Greene, Nassau, Rensselaer, Schenectady, Schoharie, Ulster and Westchester counties.
• Public Assistance (Assistance for debris removal, emergency protective actions and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities): Albany, Bronx, Clinton, Delaware, Dutchess, Essex, Greene, Montgomery, Nassau, New York, Queens, Rensselaer, Richmond, Rockland, Schoharie, Suffolk, Ulster, Warren, and Westchester Counties. Direct federal assistance is authorized.
• Hazard Mitigation Grant Program: (Assistance for actions taken to prevent or reduce long term risk to life and property from natural hazards): All counties in the State of New York are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

State Sen. Carl Marcellino, R-Syosset, immediately called for more aid for Suffolk: "While localities in Suffolk County will be eligible to receive federal assistance to pay for road, bridge and infrastructure repairs related to the storm, home and business owners were not included on the list for disaster assistance," Marcellino said. "I am urging the President to include them."

Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties can begin applying for assistance by registering online at http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362.

Disaster assistance applicants, who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.