Schumer Announces FEMA Approves Trailers And Rental Assistance For Residents In Flood Damaged Areas
Temporary Housing Is Desperately Needed For Those Who Lost Homes In The Horrific Floods Last Month
Schumer Aggressively Lobbied Federal and State Governments for Expedited Approval
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is sending temporary living trailers to areas damaged by last months flooding. Schumer, who earlier this month called on David Paulison, head of FEMA to move the trailers to New York swiftly, said the counties that have been approved to receive the trailers are Broome, Delaware, Chenango, Herkimer, Montgomery, Oneida, Orange, Otsego, Schoharie, Sullivan, Tioga, and Ulster. The two counties that will receive the primary focus are Broome and Delaware where there is the most damage. FEMA will provide as many trailers as necessary and people can have trailers for up to 18 months.
People can not fully recover until every displaced person is again safe and secure, Schumer said. I've never seen anything quite like these floods that devastated the region. The government has been asking these people to be patient as different kinds of aid slowly come in, but what they really need is a home to live in while they try to rebuild their lives. Clearly, these FEMAprovided trailers will be vital to the recovery of the region and the stability of its residents.
People who already registered with FEMA for this trailer/rental assistance will be contacted by FEMA in the next week or two and given a preliminary interview. If a displaced resident has not registered with FEMA yet, they should call 1800621FEMA and register. Anyone who lives in a county designated to receive Individual Assistance whose home was destroyed or badly damaged should register with FEMA and do a preliminary interview in order to be eligible for a trailer or rental assistance. Rental assistance would be available to those who meet FEMA requirements but do not want a trailer and to whose property is unsafe for trailers.
FEMA said they will start processing claims today and the trailers should deployed in the coming weeks. Struggling to cope with an overwhelming situation many counties, specifically Broome, Delaware and Otsego Counties believe that they do not have the resources to provide temporary housing for all of those who are in dire need of emergency housing resources for some of their most traumatized citizens. While these communities are accustomed to the strong storms that summer inevitably brings, this year they are suffering more than ever before, and can not bear the brunt of recovery alone.
