FEMA expands financial relief to businesses, homeowners

If you don”™t like the weather in New England, wait a few minutes, Mark Twain is purported to have said.
The same apparently could be said for storm emergency funding declarations from the federal government.
Months after an April 15 nor”™easter flooded parts of Fairfield County ”“ including Redding Road where Twain established a library ”“ the Federal Emergency Management Agency reversed an earlier stance and now will provide grants and low-interest loans to businesses and homeowners throughout the state, save Tolland County.
Within two weeks of the storm, FEMA allowed businesses and residents in Westchester County, N.Y., to apply for the full spate of disaster programs, but initially only allowed municipal agencies in Fairfield County to do so.
Statewide, the storm cost private property owners $31 million in damages, according to the most recent estimates from the office of Gov. M. Jodi Rell, who appealed for a disaster declaration.
The FEMA reversal opens the spigot to a stream of programs. The U.S. Small Business Administration makes loans to cover both physical damage to property, including business inventory, as well as economic injury caused by disruption to businesses.
Residents can apply for funds to repair damaged or lost items not covered by insurance, or for other expenses not met by insurance policies, including medical bills, and moving, transportation and storage costs. Homeowners displaced from their homes can apply for rental assistance.
Businesses and residents can apply for assistance via the agency”™s Web site at www.fema.gov or by calling (800) 621-3362 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Users with difficulties hearing can call FEMA”™s TTY service at (800) 462-7585.
Callers are asked to be ready to provide:
A current telephone number;
One”™s address at the time of the storm, and a current address if different;
A Social Security number;
A general list of damage and losses;
Directions to damaged properties;
Any insurance information, including policy number and agent or carrier name; and
General financial information.