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FEMA Releases Sandy Aid Figures

The agency provided a broken down list of programs and aid distributed since Hurricane Sandy.

 

In the more than four months since Hurricane Sandy arrived in New Jersey and caused massive destruction to its coastal communities, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has distributed more than $4 billion in aid, loans, and flood insurance payouts, the agency announced recently.

FEMA provides regular updates relating to funding totals and the number of residents who have availed themselves of the agency's services as it continues to work in New Jersey to provide assistance following Sandy.

According to FEMA, National Flood Insurance Program claim payouts total approximately $2.7 billion. That figure will rise as additional claims are made and existing claims are resolved.

In all, $586.4 million in loans have been approved by the Small Business Administration. The low-interest loans - low-interest for those with positive credit scores - have been approved for homeowners, renters, and business owners impacted by the storm.

In terms of aid, specifically, FEMA has released nearly $1 billion following Sandy.

Of that total, $367.3 million has come in the form of FEMA grants, which have been issued to individuals and households impacted by the storm. Another $318 million has come in the form of housing assistance, with FEMA providing temporary shelter in hotels and motels, long-term temporary housing, rent assistance, and other housing-related services.

FEMA has also approved $188 million in Public Assistance grants to communities and non-profit organizations that serve the public. Public Assistance funding is often used by towns to supplement the cost of storm debris removal and emergency response costs.

Another $49.3 million has been released by FEMA for other, non-specific needs.

According to FEMA, 258,333 New Jersey residents have contacted FEMA for help or information. In all, 123,695 home inspections have been completed and 80,844 visits have been made to Disaster Recovery Centers throughout the state, of which nine remain open following the late October storm.

FEMA is also reminding the public to reach out for assistance if they haven't done so yet. 

From a release:

Survivors can register online and check on the status of their applications at DisasterAssistance.gov, via smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov. They also can call 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585.T hose who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services can call 800-621-3362. Recovery assistants remain available daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The deadline for survivors to register with FEMA for federal disaster assistance and return SBA disaster loan applications is Monday, April 1.

Survivors can ask questions about their SBA disaster home or business loan applications by calling 800-659-2955 or TTY 800-877-8339 or emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

Survivors who have questions about flood insurance claims and the appeals process can call 888-379-9531. Additional resources are available online at FEMA.gov/SandyNJ and SBA.gov/Sandy.

About this column: News and essential information about Hurricane Sandy in New Jersey. Related Topics: FEMA, Hurricane Relief Aid, Hurricane Sandy, and National Flood Insurance Program

FAQall

4:22 pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Hahaha how funny I see so many people getting FEMA assistance that don't need it. Their going to these donation centers and churches taking goods that so many of us could use and selling or trading them for drugs and other items or just hoarding items they don't need.

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ajoke

5:59 pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013

FEMA is handing over $$ hand over fist to townships NOT to the people.... Lost about 4,000 was denied my claim

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Missing Brick

7:35 pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013

ajoke is right!

Most of us with six figures in damages are still waiting for our first insurance check from NFIP. This is insurance we PAID for!

Not sure what actually happens with their money really, regardless of what they are reporting. FEMA is full of it. In my neighborhood I see them as a big ZERO...I hope they are doing more on LBI.

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ajoke

9:14 pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013

have paid my own car insurance since I started driving at 17 now almost 50, have worked paying info taxes since I was 15 ( that supports FEMA) I asked for 4,000 & was denied. I have a car that I lost but because we have another car where where told to bad. YES they both are insured but 10-12 years cars that are paid for only have min coverage ( still paying 1600 a year to have them covered) its seems as always the more responsible you are the less the Govmt will NOT help you

One Term Amato

7:48 pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Thank Amato and his puppet masters for wasting millions on Ashbritt, so boss Gilmore got paid kick back. Shame on you Mayor Amato.

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Hank Kerchef

5:16 am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013

How about releasing the figures of how many people got screwed by Fema . Fema is completely a Bullshit organization,, all they do is wear you down with deniles and stipulations. why don't they just cut to the chase and say we really don't give a shit about your loss and we don't want to give you anything.

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Keeping whats mine

6:56 am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Just like Berkeley Twp will do while you try and get approval to build up. They will wear you down while sucking your bank acct dry. Just wait and see

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johnny

9:19 am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013

I wonder how many people remember that Mitt Romney talked about getting rid of this scam & everyone put him down What a terrible man he was for thinking that..... Like Him Or not, Seems Like Mitt knew what he was talking about....

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Don Lee

9:28 am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Amen, Hank! (they prob. take flood insur. money to prop up social security and medicare). Also they "redistribute" wealth--my Mom got almost nothing for all her damage to her home and my irresponsible cousin who lived with parents (who have been back in home for months) got to live in motel now helping him with apartment---he was never "independent" on his own in first place! How is this right! What about all the responsible people out here. My mother selling retirement assets trying to fixup house. As for Allstate Insurance Co, they should rot in hell.

johnny

9:44 am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013

@ Don Lee, seems to be the story for a lot of people, & as another comment someone else made, that the more responsible you are the less help you get.... The story of Government funded programs

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wookfish

12:20 pm on Wednesday, March 13, 2013

That's what our "leaders" want, fat and dumb.So they can take, take, take....now be a good servant and get me anextra large coke

Freetobeyouandme

9:51 am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013

In reading Christie's plan for depolyment of the 1.8 billion, the term "reserved for low to moderate income families" is used repeatedly. By burdening middle class property owners with extraordinary and unnecessary building standards, maintaining a home at the shore has become unaffordable to the working class that built it. Mr. Christie has become a modern day Robin Hood.

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Baywood

10:44 am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013

The low interest loan if for people that do not have credit available elsewhere. If you have good credit and can borrow from another lender the rate for SBA is 3.6%.

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Don Lee

11:40 am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Reached the end of rope. Allstate is paying for a huge amount of advertising yet ignoring our legitimate claims and spealing same old tired lines.Had enough of insurance company adjusters and the flood "advocate" (advocating for insurance co.) was a real joke. Reached the end of their stalling. Hired Joseph A. Porcelli, Esq. (732-244-4451)--no money upfront; giving him 1/3 of whatever he can get is much better than present situation; we see it as no loss at this point. Prepared to go to full lawsuit; If they want to see my 84 yr. mother up on stand before a jury we will go for it. She did nothing wrong and they are not honoring their insurance policies. If they have money for all the bullshit ads, they have money to pay to policy holders. She has not been home since storm---in beginning they said oh yes, do all that is necessary to get back in house, but they never said they would not pay for the repairs. (And folks,I would not hold my breath about state "mediator" as go between insurees and the insurance company--they are to be paid by insurance companies, hmnnnn--who do you think THEY will be working for?)

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grmahigold

12:08 pm on Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Hired a private adjuster myself after a joke of an offer for flood insurance. i am willing to go the legal route at some point also. Can't let them wear you down with low-balling and stalling. Haven't heard the P.A . results yet but it can't be any worse!!!!!
Fidelity Nat'l was my flood ins.

Freetobeyouandme

3:17 pm on Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Interesting article. Note fact that in New Orleans, 2010, 80% of the homes that had received elevation grants had not been raised.
http://www.silive.com/specialreports/index.ssf/2013/03/on_staten_island_as_in_new_orl.html#incart_special-report

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Samantha

3:25 pm on Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Don, I put the contents of our home on a spread sheet and emailed it to the adjuster. Two weeks later he emails an estimate and my response to him was "oh hell no."
I told the adjuster I wasn't happy with the amount, started crying, and crying, more crying, about 10 minutes worth of crying and told him all my problems, blah, blah, blah. After 4 long months, I got my number. I think he was happy to get rid of me. Don't settle and don't let them wear you down.

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One Term Amato

4:56 pm on Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Mayor Amato failed the test as leader by selling out. The Mayor appointed boss Gilmore to township attorney, and hired Ashbritt who has Gimore on payroll. Ashbritt overcharged our town by double comapred to others. The Mayor raised taxes before the storm, and will now raise them again with storm as an excuse. Mayor Amato worked for Gilmore for years in the board of elections, and the influence peddling should be investigated.

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anonymous

2:34 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013

49.3million for non specific needs what is that does anyone know or should I find out its something shady and post it all over the web.

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anonymous

2:36 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Another $49.3 million has been released by FEMA for other, non-specific needs.

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