Federal disaster assistance now available for CNMI

Federal disaster aid has now been made available to the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands to supplement Commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the area affected by Typhoon Soudelor, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency yesterday.

President Barack Obama’s action makes federal funding available to affected individuals on the island of Saipan. Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Federal funding also is available to Commonwealth and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work as a result of Typhoon Soudelor on the islands of Rota, Saipan, and Tinian.

Federal funding is available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for the entire Commonwealth.

Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated area can begin applying for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or by Web-enabled mobile device at m.fema.gov. Disaster assistance applicants, who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7am to 9pm (local time) seven days a week until further notice.

Stephen M. De Blasio Sr. has been named as the federal coordinating officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. De Blasio said that damage surveys are continuing in other areas, and additional areas may be designated for assistance after the assessments are fully completed.

Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available “as needed and warranted” under Obama’s disaster declaration issued for the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands.

Assistance for affected individuals and families can include as required:

– Rental payments for temporary housing for those whose homes are unlivable. Initial assistance may be provided for up to three months for homeowners and at least one month for renters. Assistance may be extended if requested after the initial period based on a review of individual applicant requirements. (Source: FEMA funded and administered.)

– Grants for home repairs and replacement of essential household items not covered by insurance to make damaged dwellings safe, sanitary and functional. (Source: FEMA funded and administered.)

– Grants to replace personal property and help meet medical, dental, funeral, transportation and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other federal, commonwealth and charitable aid programs. (Source: FEMA funded at 75 percent of total eligible costs; 25 percent funded by the commonwealth.)

– Unemployment payments up to 26 weeks for workers who temporarily lost jobs because of the disaster and who do not qualify for commonwealth benefits, such as self-employed individuals. (Source: FEMA funded; commonwealth administered.)

– Low-interest loans to cover residential losses not fully compensated by insurance. Loans available up to $200,000 for primary residence; $40,000 for personal property, including renter losses. Loans available up to $2 million for business property losses not fully compensated by insurance. (Source: U.S. Small Business Administration.)

– Loans up to $2 million for small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes that have suffered disaster-related cash flow problems and need funds for working capital to recover from the disaster’s adverse economic impact. This loan in combination with a property loss loan cannot exceed a total of $2 million. (Source: U.S. Small Business Administration.)

– Loans up to $500,000 for farmers, ranchers and aquaculture operators to cover production and property losses, excluding primary residence. (Source: Farm Service Agency, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.)

– Other relief programs: Crisis counseling for those traumatized by the disaster; income tax assistance for filing casualty losses; advisory assistance for legal, veterans’ benefits and social security matters.

How to apply for assistance:

Affected individuals and business owners in designated areas can begin the disaster application process by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or by web enabled mobile device at m.fema.gov. Disaster assistance applicants, who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice. Applicants registering for aid should be prepared to provide basic information about themselves (name, permanent address, phone number), insurance coverage and any other information to help substantiate losses.

Assistance for the Commonwealth and affected local governments can include as Required:

– Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for emergency protective measures, taken to save lives and protect property and public health. Emergency protective measures assistance is available to eligible commonwealth and local governments on a cost-sharing basis. (Source: FEMA funded, Commonwealth administered.)

– Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for repairing or replacing damaged public facilities, such as roads, bridges, utilities, buildings, schools, recreational areas and similar publicly owned property, as well as certain private non-profit organizations engaged in community service activities. (Source: FEMA funded, Commonwealth administered.)

– Payment of not more than 75 percent of the approved costs for hazard mitigation projects undertaken by commonwealth, and local governments to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural or technological disasters. (Source: FEMA funded, Commonwealth administered.)

How to apply for assistance:

Application procedures for commonwealth, and local governments will be explained at a series of federal/commonwealth applicant briefings with locations to be announced in the affected area by recovery officials. Approved public repair projects are paid through the commonwealth from funding provided by FEMA and other participating federal agencies. (FEMA)