Victims of Hurricane Sandy’s destructive punch have until year’s end to claim federal disaster assistance, Village Administrator Michael Blau said Monday.
Tarrytown residents who sustained a storm-related loss must register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) by Monday, Dec. 31, to be considered for disaster assistance.
Blau said FEMA’s temporary office at the County Center in White Plains has cut back its operating hours and will now close at 6 p.m. instead of 8 p.m. It will continue to open at 8 a.m. A FEMA spokesman attributed the change in hours at White Plains and 13 other disaster-assistance offices to reduced demand for federal help.
Federal disaster assistance can help storm victims find temporary housing, recover uninsured personal property losses, and aid with disaster-related expenses like medical, dental and funeral costs.
But to be considered for the federal disaster assistance, a FEMA spokesman said, those who have been seriously battered by the storm must register with the federal agency even if they have already contacted state and local emergency-management authorities, American Red Cross or other charitable organizations.
Although FEMA has established a toll-free telephone contact, 800-621-FEMA (3362), “If you call the FEMA number, they will direct you to their website,” Deputy Mayor Thomas Basher said. Applications can be filed online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or through a smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov. “It’s very easy to fill out the form on the website,” Basher said. He presided at Monday’s meeting, saying Mayor Drew Fixell was not feeling well.
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