Previous Story
Clarification on FEMA assistance
I have read your story on the CARE director’s update and would like to clarify a statement made in the story. In the story you state: “According to FEMA federal coordinating officer Stephen M. DeBlasio, more needs and housing assistance are continually being given based on appeals with the $1.6 million allocated on Wednesday.
“DeBlasio states that this funding will go toward the Public School System, the Commonwealth Utilities Corp., the Department of Public Works, Department of Homeland Security, and the Oleai Sports Complex, among others.”
You are mixing information about two separate programs in this sentence. Mr. DeBlasio did state that more needs and housing assistance are continually being given based on appeals. This program is covered under the FEMA Individual Assistance Program that provides grants to eligible individuals affected by Typhoon Soudelor.
The $1.6 million allocated on Wednesday was funds allocated under the FEMA Public Assistance Program, which is a reimbursement program for eligible public entities. The amount referenced was reimbursement funding for the organizations identified in the second paragraph and is only one of many obligations being processed as projects are completed and summited for reimbursement.
The way the original story is worded one might get the impression that the $1.6 million was going toward “needs and housing assistance,” which is not the case.
I wanted to clarify the statement to avoid any confusion.
Ron Roth
FEMA External Affairs
