From NYS Governor Kathy Hochul, picture by John Anderson
Grants of up to $50,000 to be Available to Eligible Homeowners in Allegany, Delaware, Franklin, Steuben, and St. Lawrence Counties to Address Health and Safety-Related Repairs Not Covered by Insurance or Other Disaster Relief Programs
Department of Financial Services to Deploy to Affected Communities and Extend Hotline Hours to Assist Residents and Business Owners with Insurance-Related Questions
Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Working with Impacted Counties to Assess Damage for Potential Federal Disaster Relief.
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced emergency assistance to support homeowners impacted by the remnants of Hurricane Debby. At Governor Hochul’s direction, New York Homes and Community Renewal is launching an emergency repair program for homeowners in Allegany, Delaware, Franklin, Steuben, and St. Lawrence Counties impacted by the storm. Additionally, staff from the New York State Department of Financial Services will be deployed to impacted communities to support residents and businesses with financial services questions. As these state-based resources are deployed, disaster recovery experts from the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services have begun working with their local counterparts to assess damage statewide in order to determine the state’s ability to request federal disaster relief resources from FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Eligible homeowners interested in applying may inquire here.
“State agencies have teams on the ground helping to clear damage and we are working with our local partners as they begin damage assessments,” Governor Hochul said. “We will continue to provide rapid relief for impacted residents and municipalities as these communities rebuild from the devastating remnants of Hurricane Debby.”
Under the HCR program, Homeowners will be eligible for grants of up to $50,000 to fund or reimburse certain qualifying health and safety related repairs to address damage caused by the storm that are not covered by insurance or other disaster relief programs. Applicants must be homeowners who occupy the home as a primary residence and total household income may not exceed 100 percent of the county area median income. Homeowners in other counties may become eligible as state and local recovery agencies conduct damage assessments in the coming days.
The program will be administered by local partners who will work directly with affected homeowners and assist them with insurance claims, the repair and reconstruction process and reimbursement requests.
Eligible homeowners interested in applying may inquire here.
Additionally, staff from the New York State Department of Financial Services will be staffing resource centers to support residents and businesses with financial services questions, including insurance information regarding policy coverage for losses. The Department is also extending the hours of its Disaster Hotline to provide similar support to those unable to visit a resource center. Impacted residents and businesses can call 800-339-1759. Exact locations of resource centers will be announced in the coming days.
