FEMA Announces Federal Disaster Assistance for Several Northeast States

January 4, 2018

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the states of Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storm and flooding.

Severe weather and flooding occurred in Vermont from October 29 to October 30, 2017, and in Maine and New Hampshire from October 29 to November 1, 2017.

In Vermont, federal funding is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storm and flooding in Addison, Chittenden, Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Washington, and Windham counties.

In Maine, the same is available in Cumberland, Franklin, Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Sagadahoc, Somerset, Waldo, and York counties, while in New Hampshire, impacted areas include Belknap, Carroll, Coos, Grafton, and Sullivan counties.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide in each state.

James N. Russo has been named as the federal coordinating officer for federal recovery operations in the affected areas. Russo said additional designations may be made at a later date if warranted by the results of damage assessments.

FEMA funded and state administered assistance for state and affected local governments can include as required:

  • Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for debris removal and emergency protective measures taken to save lives and protect property and public health. Emergency protective measures assistance is available to state and eligible local governments on a cost-sharing basis.
  • 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.
  • Payment of not more than 75 percent of the approved costs for hazard mitigation projects undertaken by state and local governments to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural or technological disasters.

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

Source: The Federal Emergency Management Agency

Topics Maine Vermont New Hampshire

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