One Month Left To Register For Fema Disaster Aid

James L. Seward

July 31, 2006

New Yorkers affected by the June flooding have only 30 more days to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for possible federal disaster assistance, Senator James L. Seward said today.

August 1 marks the halfway point in the 60-day registration period. It’s important that those who may need to register for aid do so as soon as possible, Seward added. Registrations cannot be accepted after the September 1, 2006.

Victims of the June floods need to make two phone calls for assistance:

For federal programs, contact FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. Lines are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., daily. You can also register online at www.fema.gov. The FEMA Helpline number is the same as the registration number: 1-800-621 FEMA.

For the New York State Individual and Family Grant Program, call 1-888-7-NYS-AID (1-888-769-7243) or (TTY) NYS Relay 711. Lines are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. You can also register online at www.labor.state.ny.us. New York’s helpline is 1-888-329-7540 (open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Saturday). All applications must be postmarked by September 5, 2006 to be considered for this program.

"Registration keeps open the possibility of a wide range of assistance," said Marianne C. Jackson, the FEMA official in charge of federal recovery operations. "If your insurance coverage comes up short, or other damage appears later, you need to be registered for us to help."

The registration period and the deadline apply to the major federal disaster declaration signed by President Bush on July 1 that enabled residents and business owners in Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Herkimer, Montgomery, Oneida, Orange, Otsego, Schoharie, Sullivan, Tioga and Ulster counties to register for federal/state recovery aid.

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