Deadline for FEMA Assistance Extended by One Month

The following press release is from the office of Rep. Carolyn McCarthy

FEMA will be extending its deadline for its Individual Assistance program for individuals and families by about one month, to Jan. 28, 2013, Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY4) announced.

“FEMA has responded with agility and flexibility to the challenges posed by Superstorm Sandy and I’m glad that the agency has heeded calls for more time for people to apply for assistance as they work to recover,” McCarthy said.

The extension applies to Sandy survivors on Long Island, in New York City, and in several Hudson Valley counties.

According to FEMA, assistance for individuals and families can include money for rent, essential home repairs, personal property losses and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance, including medical expenses, vehicle repair, and reimbursement for moving espenses and transportation costs.

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This would be the second deadline extended by FEMA after Superstorm Sandy. The agency’s “Public Assistance Grants” for local municipalities received a one-month extension, until the end of the year.

The deadline for disaster assistance for small businesses, non-profits and religious institutions, including loans and grants, has also been extended to Jan. 28, 2013. 

Last week, McCarthy joined Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY14), Rep. Peter King (R-NY3) and others in a bipartisan effort to have the small business and nonprofit application deadline extended, writing to FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate and participating in a press conference on the steps of Manhattan’s City Hall on Friday.

“FEMA and the SBA deserve credit for showing flexibility with their deadlines to help people apply for the assistance they need,” McCarthy said. “While it’s not as much time as we wanted, I’m glad the agencies are listening to our requests and look forward to continuing to work with them as people recover from Sandy.”

To help small businesses, non-profits and religious institutions learn more about the assistance available to them, Rep. McCarthy is holding a forum featuring FEMA and the Small Business Administration, among other agencies, at 9:15 a.m. on Dec. 17 at the Baldwin Public Library.

Storm survivors can register for FEMA assistance by calling (800) 621-3362, visiting www.disasterassistance.gov on a computer or visiting m.fema.gov on a smartphone. Constituents of McCarthy’s district may also contact her office for help applying.