Brooklyn eligible for federal aid after Irene
Brooklyn residents can breathe a sigh of relief: The borough hasbeen added to the list of New York counties approved by the FederalEmergency Management Agency (FEMA) as eligible for federal disasterassistance following damage caused by Hurricane Irene.
Now, Brooklyn homeowners, renters and small businesses thatsuffered damages and losses as a result of the storm can apply forpublic assistance in the following areas: Individuals andHouseholds Program, Crisis Counseling, Disaster UnemploymentAssistance, USDA food coupons and distribution, USDA foodcommodities, Disaster Legal Services, the Disaster SupplementalNutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and Small BusinessAdministration disaster loans.
Funding for emergency work and the repair or replacement offacilities damaged by Hurricane Irene had already been approvedfor 19 other counties in New York that were declared major disasterareas, including the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens and Richmond (StatenIsland). New York State as a whole had already been approved forfederal assistance.