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Several Ida-Flooded Queens Residents Thought FEMA Would Make Them Whole. It’s Not That Simple.
By
Gwynne Hogan
Published Sep 18, 2021
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By
Gwynne Hogan
Published Sep 18, 2021
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President Joe Biden and a contingent of federal, state, and local officials toured flood-ravaged sections of Queens earlier this month in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Ida, promising speedy relief to homeowners and renters. Impacted residents were told about the $32,000 maximum payout they could expect to receive to help them recover.
But two weeks later, many are realizing it's far less simple than they were promised.
Officials are now telling residents that funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency aren’t intended to cover all of the damage caused by Ida. Instead many residents are being directed to apply for low-interest loans they’ll eventually have to repay through the U.S. Small Business Administration to defray any costs FEMA won’t cover.
“What the f--k?” said Erika Kasouto, 41, when she was told to apply for a federal loan in one of several calls to FEMA agents. The Woodside home she lives in with her parents took in five feet of water on the ground level. “It’s ridiculous. It’s disheartening.”
Despite assurances from elected officials in the immediate aftermath of the flooding, FEMA representatives have since tried to clarify on their hotline, through email, and at the city’s disaster service centers set up after Ida that grant funding is only intended to cover the essential costs of someone staying in their damaged home.
Several residents from hard-hit areas like Woodside, East Elmhurst, and Hollis told WNYC/Gothamist about similar correspondence with FEMA. And federal officials confirmed as much, adding that homeowners would likely qualify for the maximum $32,000 payout if their home was destroyed. People can qualify for a loan and still receive a FEMA grant, officials said.
“FEMA grants aren’t intended to make disaster survivors whole,” said Carl Dombek, a spokesperson for the U.S. Small Business Administration, which facilitates loans for up to $2 million. “People who register with FEMA may get an SBA disaster loan application because SBA is the source of the larger sums of money necessary to help them restore their properties to pre-disaster condition.”
Michael Wade, a spokesperson for FEMA, explained grants are supposed to go towards essential needs to keep someone in their home but not the costs of fully repairing it or replacing lost items they consider non-essential. A FEMA grant could go towards replacing a boiler, a mattress or a refrigerator, because those are the types of items deemed essential to continue living there, but not fixing drywall, replacing carpet, or re-purchasing any non-essential household items, he said.
“We’re trying to make sure that they’re living is safe, sanitary, and secure,” Wade said.
Since five New York counties were designated a major disaster area on September 6th. 32,000 households have applied for federal aid, according to Wade. About 100 assessors are evaluating the damage and so far $12 million had been paid out as of Friday morning. The funds were earmarked for rental assistance, home repairs, funeral costs and medical expenses. Wade didn’t clarify how many households received that aid.
Renters and homeowners can borrow upwards of $40,000 from SBA to replace items lost during the flooding. Homeowners, however, can borrow a maximum of $200,000 for repairs to their primary home.
Certain low income families can potentially receive more FEMA funding that goes beyond essential items because they would not be able to qualify for a loan, though FEMA and SBA didn’t say what the income threshold was for that. One East Elmhurst resident told WNYC/Gothamist that a FEMA representative told him that threshold was $15,000 a year.
Wade declined repeated efforts to clarify what the income threshold was.
Beyond who may qualify for some limited funding, undocumented immigrants don't qualify for any funding at all, according to federal restrictions. THE CITY reported there were talks underway about establishing a relief fund for undocumented people impacted by flooding in New York City, though it wasn’t clear what the status of that fund was. Undocumented people with citizen children or who live with legal immigrant roommates are eligible for funding.
Julia Nieves, 77, another Woodside resident had thought FEMA funds might cover the $20,000 estimate a contractor gave her to gut and fix her basement, which was also inundated with five feet of water.
“I’m not building the Taj Mahal. I just want my walls back,” she said. But after a FEMA assessor visited her home she was offered $8,000 to repair her place. The inspector wouldn’t go inside to inspect the damage himself because of COVID-19 restrictions, said Nieves, who plans to appeal her case.
“I'll go down fighting,” Nieves said.
Tagged
fema
queens
tropical storm ida
Gwynne Hogan
Gwynne Hogan is a former Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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