Apply by December 6!
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is offering relief to households and businesses in the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Ida.
Flooding from the summer hurricane caused billions of dollars in property damage in New York alone which left countless people in need of help. During the storm a record 3.15 inches fell within one hour, which is 0.04 inches less than Chicago’s average rainfall for the entire month of September.
There are four ways to apply for FEMA assistance: visit DisasterAssistance.gov, download the FEMA mobile app, call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362, or apply in-person at your nearest Disaster Recovery Center which you can find at fema.gov/DRC. FEMA staff and agency representatives at these centers can help with uploading documents and explain how to apply for low-interest disaster loans.
FEMA disaster funds can cover the cost of temporary housing while your property is being repaired or rebuilt and furnace repair or replacement. In addition to financial relief, you could also be eligible for a one-time Cleaning and Sanitizing grant to help with Ida cleanup costs.
On November 9, Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez held a virtual town hall on how to access flooding assistance with FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Velázquez has been vocal about her concern for Hurricane Ida victims since the disaster happened.
“We saw that our infrastructure in New York is not equipped to sustain the kind of weather we saw during Ida,” she said during a post-Ida tour of Brooklyn businesses in September. “Let’s provide resources that are needed so we equip every business.”
The deadline to apply for Hurricane Ida relief is December 6. If your application for FEMA disaster assistance is or was turned down, you have 60 days from the date of your denial letter to appeal it.
To get help with the appeal process or ask about tenant-landlord issues, home repair contracts, and more disaster issues, low-income residents across New York City can call for free legal advice from attorneys using the toll-free Legal Services Hotline at 888-399-5459.
Small businesses, homeowners, renters, and some nonprofit organizations can request an Economic Injury Disaster Loan at SBA.gov.
For referrals to agencies that support community-specific needs, call 211 or visit 211nys.org/contact-us. New York City residents can call 311.
The Greenline 