Disaster aid being sought for rain-damaged areas

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton backed an appeal by the New York State Emergency Management Office to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), asking that it provide adequate and comprehensive disaster assistance to all 18 New York counties affected by severe storms, rains and flooding in recent months.

Clinton also announced that FEMA had declared Cattaraugus and Orleans counties eligible to receive public assistance reimbursement for the costs of emergency protective measures taken during the August-September storms as well as for the restoration of public facilities and for debris removal.

"The severity of the storms and flooding in August and September had a devastating effect on so many communities in upstate New York. Many families were forced from their homes, while others suffered significant damage to their property and livelihoods," Clinton said. "FEMA's assistance is critical to ensuring that every affected county gets back on its feet. We must provide the necessary federal assistance to everyone who needs it."

According to the State Emergency Management Office, the specific details of the appeal are as follows:

On October 1, FEMA issued two major federal disaster declarations, making 12 counties eligible for disaster assistance for the series of storms that began in mid-August and continued into the middle of September. The state, however, announced that it was appealing the decision because FEMA had limited the disaster assistance from what New York state had requested. New York state had sought assistance for both individuals and communities for both the August-September storms and for the heavy five to seven inch rainfall and ensuing floods that occurred September 16-24. FEMA had granted assistance only to individuals for the September 16-24 flooding and only to communities for the August-September storms.

FEMA also declared 10 counties, including Monroe, eligible for public assistance relief for the August to September storms. However, it did not provide assistance for individuals which would provide grants to help pay for temporary home repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses, and lowered-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration to cover residential and business losses not fully compensated by insurance. In its appeal, the state is seeking individual assistance for homeowners, renters and small businesses for several counties including Monroe and Orleans.

Clinton backed the state's original requests for disaster assistance for counties across New York that were affected by the severe storms. In two separate letters, Clinton called on President Bush to declare a major federal disaster for the counties thereby granting them eligibility for federal assistance.