Senator Farley Gives Helpful Websites And Phone Numbers For Flood Victims

Governor George E. Pataki announced that a toll-free number has been established to assist flood victims with the State's Individual and Family Grant applications.

"We have established a dedicated toll-free number to help New York flood victims as they recover from the impact of last week’s storms and I urge everyone in the affected regions to call for assistance," Governor Pataki said. "By working together, we can help our fellow New Yorkers recover and rebuild."

The phone number is 1-888-7-NYS-AID and operators will be available from Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Operators will begin taking calls today.

Applications will be available at Disaster Assistance Service Centers and on the web at http://labor.state.ny.us/grant_info.shtm.

For FEMA applications, call FEMA toll-free at (800) 621-3362.

Earlier today, the Governor also announced the opening of six Disaster Assistance Service Centers in regions hit by the flooding. These centers will give homeowners, renters and small business owners the opportunity to meet face-to-face with representatives from State and local agencies and volunteer organizations to discuss and access disaster recovery assistance.

The Disaster Assistance Service Centers opening today will be at the following county locations and will be open from 1 p.m. until 8 p.m. today and will remain open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, including July 4th, until further notice:

· Broome County: Binghamton High School, 31 Main Street, Binghamton, NY

1· Delaware County: Walton High School, 47-49 Stockton Avenue, Walton, NY

· Otsego County: SUNY Campus, Lee Hall, Ravena Parkway, Oneonta, NY

· Sullivan County: Sullivan County International Airport, Terminal

Building, County Route 183A, White Lake, NY

The Disaster Assistance Service Centers scheduled to open at 8 a.m.

Tuesday July 4th will be at the following locations and will remain open

from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily until further notice:

· Montgomery County: Fonda-Fultonville CSD Campus (Middle School), 112 Old Johnstown Road, Fonda, NY

The toll-free number and the Disaster Assistance Service Centers are the first steps in the $35 million New York State Flood Relief Program the Governor announced last Friday to hasten the recovery process within the Empire State. The program’s centerpiece is a $25 million State Individual and Family Grant Program, which will provide individuals, families, and small businesses with grants of up to $5,000 for documented flood losses not covered by insurance or other government programs. This assistance program, administered by the State Department of Labor, will use funding appropriated in the enacted 2006-07 State Budget to ensure the assistance is available in a timely manner.