Politics & Government

FEMA Headed to Suffolk for Storm Assessment

County urges people to calculate damages for federal aid.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will be in Suffolk this week to assess the damages of the storm on March 13 in order to provide grant funding to those who sustained extensive property damage.

In order to receive the maximum amount of federal disaster relief funds available, the county must demonstrate to FEMA officials that the storm, which came barreling though Long Island with 70 mph winds, created severe and extraordinary community impacts; particularly damage to homes and disruptions to individual or family health and well-being, according to a statement from Levy's office.

Those interested in receiving federal aid for the clean up must present all information to their local village or town. FEMA's Preliminary Damage Assessment Team will be looking for the following types of storm impacts upon review of the specific homes, sites, addresses, businesses or contacts that have sustained significant uninsured losses:

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-Homes, residences and/or businesses with significant structural damages.  The extent of insurance coverage, if any, will also need to be determined.

-Families that have homes or residences that are not habitable; or families that have severe damages or permanent disruptions to heat, electric and other essential household services.

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-Individuals that have lost jobs or those that will be out of work for a continuing period as a result of the storm.

-Names, addresses and contacts for businesses that have sustained severe uninsured losses as a result of the storm. Identify the most severely impacted businesses – essentially those that may face closing, bankruptcy or suspension of business activities as a result of the storm.

All residents are urged to keep an inventory of all of their uninsured losses in order to report for FEMA aid and, if they are eligible, low interest loans from the United States Small Business Administration, a statement said,

"The nor'easter of March 13 brought with it widespread disaster to Suffolk County," Levy said. "Downed trees, residents without power and further erosion of our beautiful seashores were just some of the problems that have come as a result. I urge every single person who sustained any type of difficulty as a result of the storm to get in touch with their local municipality and fully detail the specifics. In order to provide the maximum amount of financial assistance to our residents, we need the maximum number of residents to provide their local town or village with information."


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