Westchester Declared Disaster Area, Eligible for FEMA Help

by Judy Silberstein, photos by Fred Levine

FEMA Director David Paulison and Senator Hillary Clinton toured Mamaroneck VIllage's flooding damage on Monday, April 23, the day before the president declared Westchester a disaster area.

(April 26, 2007) President George W. Bush declared Westchester County a federal disaster area Tuesday afternoon, April 24, allowing victims of last week’s nor’easter to begin applying for federal aid through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The designation had been urgently sought by local, county and state officials via letters and in person during tours of flood devastation in Mamaroneck Village with NY Governor Eliot Spitzer (on April 16), Senator Chuck Schumer (on April 20), and most recently Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Congresswoman Nita Lowey and FEMA Director Paulison, on Monday, April 23.

The current designation covers only individuals and businesses. FEMA is still reviewing reports of damage to public facilities, such as that sustained when Mamaroneck Avenue School’s gymnasium filled with water almost up to its basketball hoops.

Individuals may now apply for direct aid of up to $28,200 from FEMA and additional low interest loans through the Small Business Administration (SBA). Impacted businesses may apply only for the SBA loans. (See how to apply below.) Residents or business with insurance may still apply for FEMA or SBA help if the settlement is insufficient to cover the needs. However, the FEMA website indicates, “Most disaster aid programs are intended to meet only essential needs and are not intended to cover all your losses.”

“I’m very glad that the president signed the declaration so quickly – he was only presented with the FEMA recommendation this morning,” noted Mamaroneck Town Supervisor Valerie O’Keeffe late Tuesday. “What it means for us: we have to facilitate people getting the correct email addresses (www.fema.gov) and forms, we hope, basically through the website.”

“The people who called the Village clerk with the estimate of their damage last week, now need to take the next step and apply to FEMA,” said Larchmont Trustee Marlene Kolbert.

What About the Long-Term?

Surrounded by the media, community members, and other officials, Senator HiIlary Rodham Clinton (at center) heard from Jim Killoran of Westchester Habit for Humanity (in white shirt). He and fellow volunteers have been helping restore Howard Avenue since the March 2 floods.

There’s some hope that the effects of back-to-back floods this spring will galvanize support at the county, state and federal level for projects to bring relief to low-lying areas of Larchmont and Mamaroneck.

As Senator Hillary Clinton toured the flood ravaged neighborhoods of Mamaroneck Village on Monday, she addressed the immediate need for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), but also called for a meeting of minds with all of the surrounding communities in the region and with the Army Corps of Engineers. “This can’t keep happening,” she said. There have been previous engineering studies, “but nothing happened,” she said. “I will be working to get the Army Corps to fast track – not an easy thing,” she admitted.

Westchester County Executive Andy Spano called for regional action on flooding, as did Westchester County Legislator Judy Myers.

“It’s not just one fix, but a lot of smaller fixes Westchester County,” said County Legislator Judy Myers, whose district includes Larchmont and Mamaroneck. “You need to step back and look at the entire region to see how it all fits together and how one municipality affects another.”

The talk of solutions came too late for Doreen Green, who was helping conduct the VIP tour of Howard Avenue in one of the worst hit neighborhoods in the county. After 51 years of living with perennial floods, she said she had given up and moved to the other side of Westchester.

Jay Fisher, a resident of Larchmont’s low-lying Pine Brook Drive, was more optimistic. He said he was heartened that “the county is looking at regional hot spots and solutions and finally working with the Army Corps of Engineers. This is good news.” He and his neighbors have been advocating this approach for years. “I’ve said the cause of our Pine Brook flooding is a regional issue – it’s draining about 1200 acres from three municipalities,” said Mr. Fisher.

How to Apply to for FEMA Assistance: Step by Step

• Have insurance? Don’t have? Everyone may apply, but residents with insurance should first contact their insurance company. If your insurance does not cover the damage, you will need to obtain a letter from the insurance company verifying this.
  
  
• To apply for FEMA online, go to www.fema.gov for instructions and forms.
  
  
• To apply by phone, call1-800-621-FEMA (1-800-621-3362). Hearing impaired individuals call TTY: 1-800-462-7585).
  
  
• Or go to the Senior Center at the Mamaroneck Town Center where FEMA will have representatives to help with the process from 8 am to 7 pm, 7 days a week.
  
  
• Also at the center will be representatives from state and county agencies who can help with referrals for additional assistance, including counseling, food stamps and senior services.
  
  
• Applicants will need the following:
• • Your Social Security number.
• • A description of your losses that were caused by the disaster.
• • Insurance information.
• • Directions to your damaged property.
• • A telephone number where you can be contacted.
  
  
• After you apply: An inspector will call within approximately 10 days to schedule an appointment to visit the damaged property and assess the damage. Within another 10 days from the visit, you will receive a letter from FEMA with a decision. If you are eligible, you will receive a check or transfer of cash to your personal bank account. Anyone turned down is informed of the appeals process. Some applicants will be referred to the SBA disaster assistance program where they can apply for further help.

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