President Obama Declares Westchester, Rockland Counties A Major Disaster Area Due To Sandy
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - President Barack Obama has declared Westchester and Rockland counties Major Disaster areas, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced today.
The declaration means the federal government can send aid to state and local governments and makes federal funding available to affected individuals. That assistance includes grants for temporary housing, home repairs, low-cost loans to cover property losses, and more.
"New York appreciates all the support we have received from Washington as we continue to recover from Hurricane Sandy," Cuomo said.
New York, Kings, Queens, Richmond, Bronx, Nassau and Suffolk counties are also considered Major Disaster areas.
To qualify for aid, individuals must first register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. To do so, you can log on to www.disasterassistance.gov, apply via mobile phone at m.fema.gov, or call the following numbers:
- 1-800-621-3362
- For those who have speech disability and use TTY, call 1-800-462-7585
- For those who use 711 or Video Relay Service, call 1-800-621-3362
For more disaster relief information and resources, click here.
Cuomo also announced that the 600 additional New York National Guard were being deployed to Westchester and Rockland counties to help restore power to the area. More than 3,400 National Guard troops have been deployed state-wide in response to Sandy.
