 |
| FEMA Inspector Richard Martin inspects a basement apartment in Hoboken two days after the residents applied for FEMA assistance. FEMA is working with many partners and organizations to provide assistance to residents affected by Hurricane Sandy. [PHOTO: Liz Roll/FEMA] |
Washington: At the direction of President Obama, the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) continues to lead the federal government's effort to
provide assistance and support to states affected by the aftermath of Hurricane
Sandy—ensuring the federal family and its public and private partners continue
to provide all available resources to support state, local, territorial and
tribal communities in affected areas.
President Obama received updates throughout the day from his team on
current response and recovery efforts, and spoke directly with state and local
officials from across the affected areas.
In support of an aggressive power restoration effort, the
President has approved a 100 percent cost share for ten days, starting October
31, for emergency work performed by state, tribal and local governments to
restore emergency power and transportation assistance required to perform this
emergency work, including direct federal assistance for New Jersey, New York,
and Connecticut counties designated for Public Assistance. Other forms of
Category B (emergency work) public assistance remain at a 75 percent cost
share.
“FEMA’s priority is to accelerate disaster assistance to the
storm survivors,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “Impacted residents and
business owners in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey can apply for federal
assistance by phone 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), via mobile devices m.fema.gov or
online www.DisasterAssistance.gov.”
Federal urban search and rescue teams continue to support
state and local efforts for combined searches of more than 3,300 structures in
Queens and 870 structures in Staten Island, and rapid reconnaissance of 9,500
structures in Nassau County, New York.
Notably, at the direction of the President, a national power
restoration working group has been established to cut through the red tape,
increase federal, state, tribal, local and private sector coordination and
restore power to people as quickly as possible and includes DoD, DOT, DOE,
USACE and representatives from local law enforcement. Today, more than 60 power restoration
vehicles and crews from private utility companies were airlifted from
California to the New York.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers deployed the 249th Engineer
Battalion Technical Assistance personnel and other technical experts to support
emergency temporary power. The USACE
also deployed technical assistance, senior leadership oversight, and are
working to identify and deploy additional pumps as priorities are established
in coordination with the states.
Earlier this week the President Obama declared major
disasters for Connecticut, New York and New Jersey, making disaster assistance
available to those in the heaviest hit areas affected by the storm.
To date, more than 58,000 individuals in Connecticut, New
York and New Jersey have registered for assistance, and more than $5.9 million
has been approved.
More than 2,300 FEMA personnel are reportedly working to
support response operations, including search and rescue, situational
awareness, communications and logistical support in states affected by the
storm. Community relations teams are on
the ground in the hardest hit areas of the Mid-Atlantic going door-to-door to
inform disaster survivors about available services and resources and to gather
situational awareness. Hundreds of
housing inspectors are on the ground, meeting with disaster survivors to
identify damages to homes, to further expedite assistance to individuals.