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At Gillibrand Urging, FEMA Extends Deadline for Thousands of Superstorm Sandy Victims Living in Temporary Hotels and Motels

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Fri, 2013-01-11 21:00 — Kathy Gilbeaux

With Aid Set to Expire this Sunday, FEMA Provides Two-Week Extension for 2,400 New York Families Still Living in Hotels and Motels

gillibrand.senate.gov - January 11, 2013

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) today announced that FEMA granted a two-week extension that allows an estimated 2,400 New York residents displaced from Superstorm Sandy to temporarily live in hotels and motels through January 27, 2013. With an upcoming deadline looming for displaced residents who would have been forced to leave their temporary shelters this Sunday, Senator Gillibrand pressed FEMA Administrator Fugate earlier this week to extend their stay as they continue to rebuild in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.

“This reprieve for New Yorkers displaced by the storm by FEMA is critically needed” said Senator Gillibrand. “We must ensure that families whose lives and homes have been uprooted by this unprecedented disaster have the emergency help and shelter they need to begin to rebuild. Congress must now fulfill its obligation and pass a fully funded disaster relief package to provide families and small businesses throughout the Northeast region the long term help required to rebuild.”

Earlier this week, Senator Gillibrand wrote in a letter to FEMA Administrator W. Craig Fugate, “I write to urge the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to extend the deadline for the Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program, allowing eligible Hurricane Sandy survivors to remain in hotels and motels while they continue to search for more permanent housing…. TSA is a crucial resource for New Yorkers struggling to rebuild both their homes and their lives in the wake of this unprecedented disaster.”

Under the FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program, eligible survivors unable to return to their homes because of damage caused by the storm are allowed to stay in participating hotels or motels until more suitable housing is available.

Currently, there are an estimated 2,360 eligible Sandy survivors in temporary housing under the TSA program, including those from areas hard-hit throughout New York City and Long Island. Since the storm, the program has served more than 97,000 New York households.

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Fri, 2013-01-11 23:23 — Kathy Gilbeaux

fema.gov

Release date: January 11, 2013
Release Number: NR-135

New York – The Federal Emergency Management Agency, at the request of the State of New York, has approved a 14-day extension to the Transitional Sheltering Assistance program, which allows eligible survivors from Hurricane Sandy who cannot return to their homes to stay in participating hotels or motels.

The new extension will allow applicants to remain in participating hotels until Jan. 27, 2013. FEMA will call applicants eligible for the extension to notify them of the extended Jan. 27 checkout date.   

“The Transitional Sheltering Assistance program is a temporary solution for folks who need a place to stay as we continue working with our state and local partners to help get people back into longer-term housing,” said FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer Michael F. Byrne. “That’s our number one priority.”

“On behalf of Governor Cuomo, I thank FEMA for approving the State’s request to extend the Transitional Sheltering Assistance program,” said Jerome M. Hauer, Commissioner of the NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services.  “The extension of this important program provides necessary assistance to those affected by Hurricane Sandy as they continue to recover and rebuild.”

This is a short-term program that places families in hotels while they transition into longer-term housing.

To be eligible for TSA, survivors must first apply for federal assistance through FEMA by:

  • Registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov; 
  • Registering via smartphone or tablet by using the FEMA app or going to m.fema.gov; or
  • Registering by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) (TTY 800-462-7585). For 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.                                    

For more information on New York’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/SandyNY, www.twitter.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy and www.fema.gov/blog.

Last Updated: January 11, 2013 - 13:53
State or Region: New York
Related Disaster: New York Hurricane Sandy

http://www.fema.gov/news-release/2013/01/11/fema-extends-transitional-sheltering-assistance-program-ny-additional-14

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