Thu. Mar 28th, 2024

Today is the deadline for those wanting to get assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency for damage caused by storms this summer in Blair County, including Tyrone and other northern areas.
Federal and state assistance to northern and western Pennsylvania counties affected by severe storms and flooding this summer has topped $8 million, according to disaster recovery officials. The total for all disaster programs is $8,292,968, officials said. The Federal Emergency Management Agency had received 1,318 applications from disaster victims in 11 designated counties including Blair.
In those 11 counties, individuals and households program grants totaled $2,082,547 as of the close of business on Nov. 11. Of that total, $1,779,838 was for housing assistance and $302,708 was for other needs assistance.
Disaster housing assistance provides grants for alternate rental housing, or emergency repairs to make a residence livable. Disaster housing assistance helps people meet housing needs until they can make arrangements for permanent repairs, through insurance, loans or from other sources. Other Needs Assistance helps families who cannot afford a low-interest loan to meet serious disaster-related costs not covered by other disaster aid or insurance.
The U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loan program has approved the following loans to people who can afford a loan and to businesses:
•home loans: 38 for $887,500;
•business loans: two for $221,100;
•economic injury disaster loans: one for $1,500; and
•total disaster loans approved: 41 for $1,110,100.
Homeowners, renters or business owners in Blair and other designated counties may apply for federal and state disaster assistance until the end of business today. They can apply by calling the toll-free registration number: 1-800-621-3362.
For those with a speech or hearing impairment, the number is 1-800-462-7585 (TTY). Both lines are open until 8 p.m. tonight.
Residents in 11 counties are eligible for individual assistance under President Bush’s major disaster declaration of Sept. 18. They are Blair, Crawford, Lackawanna, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Potter, Tioga, Venango, Warren and Wayne.
(FEMA’s Harrisburg Disaster Office provided
information for this article.)

By Rick