Politics & Government

County Opens Hurricane Assessment Centers

County: Suffolk Homeowners and small businesses seeking compensation will be assisted by specialists.

Suffolk County announced Thursday it has joined forces with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the state to establish a Disaster Recovery Center at the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge.

The center will open for the first time on September 9, from noon to 8 p.m., and it will be open on September 10 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tables and chairs will be set up inside the Dennison Building on the Plaza level, staffed by FEMA disaster-recovery specialists who can provide information about assistance that is available. Going forward, the center will be staffed for several weeks from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays, according to the county.

After Hurricane Irene hit, the county urged the Obama Administration and Long Island’s federal delegation to expand available assistance for Suffolk and Nassau residents to include Individual Assistance (IA), for homeowners and businesses, in addition to Public Assistance (PA), which only covers costs for damage to governmental and public facilities, according to County Exec. Steve Levy’s office.

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“We are pleased that IA assistance has been approved, and that residents who were hit hardest by Hurricane Irene,” said Levy in a statement. “Individual assistance now opens the door to up to $30,200 in grants for businesses and homeowners, with additional low-interest loans that could bring the total amount up to $100,000 per applicant.”

According to the county, homeowners and business owners seeking this aid should register with FEMA prior to coming to the Disaster Recovery Center at the Dennison Building, which is located at 100 Veterans Memorial Highway in Hauppauge, 11788. Registration can be completed by calling the toll-free FEMA hotline at 800-621-3362. Applicants may also register online at DisasterAssistance.gov.

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Applicants are advised to bring documentation with them that shows the extent of damage, as well as proof from their insurance company or agent that losses are not covered by an insurance policy or policies.


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