Originally published 10/03/2021. Last updated 11/14/2021.

This post is a resource for available assistance in New York, for those who were affected by Hurricane Ida (September 1-3 2021). Eligible NY locations include: Brooklyn (Kings), Bronx, Queens, Staten Island (Richmond), Westchester, Nassau, Sullivan, Suffolk and Rockland counties.

For areas in New Jersey that were affected, see here.

Table of Contents

• FEMA – Grant to cover damages and relocation expenses (funds do not need to be repaid
• SBA – Low-interest loans to help cover damages to home and for businesses that were affected by Ida (funds do need to be repaid)
• More Helpful Information
  • Tax Filing Extension
  • Disaster Unemployment Assistance
  • NY Comptroller – for backed up sewers

FEMA

FEMA provides funds for those who had uninsured and underinsured damages at their primary residence. 

Apply Here

(Deadline to apply extended to December 6, 2021, January 4, 2022)

Once you apply, check the status of your claim here.

The initial online application is very straightforward. After you apply, a case manager will call you to discuss the damage, possibly from a random phone number. An inspector may come down to your house to talk with you and view the property, but will most likely stay outside the property

Damages to Personal Property

Both owners and renters can get reimbursed for essential items that were damaged. Keep in mind that FEMA does not pay for items it deems non-essential.

Relocation Expenses

Both owners and renters can get relocation expenses (default seems to be 2 months of what they decide a rental should cost for your family size) if the home is not liveable until damages are repaired,

Physical Damages to Home

Owners can get funds to repair damage to their property (walls, floor etc), as long as it is their primary residence. A tenant/renter cannot get reimbursed for damages to the property/home (as that is the landlord’s responsibility).

If the landlord lives in the same house, then the landlord can get funds to repair the damage to the property. If the landlord does not live in the house, FEMA will not cover property damage. 

There are reports that renters received $300 for cleaning and sanitizing even if they are not approved for funding to cover damages.

Appealing the Decision

If you disagree with FEMA’s decision, you can submit an appeal.

Can I apply for FEMA assistance if I have insurance?

Yes. You may qualify for FEMA assistance even if you have insurance. By law, FEMA cannot duplicate benefits for losses covered by your insurance. So, you need to file a claim with your insurance company as soon as possible.

Helpful Resources

• DFS: The Department for Financial Services has a Disaster Hotline for help with all things related to insurance and claims: (800) 339-1759, open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Options for NYS residents
• New York City Relief Options
• In-Person FEMA and SBA Help (8am-7pm)
  • Brooklyn: Medgar Evers College (Classroom P23) – 231 Crown Street, Brooklyn, NY 11225
  • Queens: Queens College, Student Union – 152-45 Melbourne Ave, Flushing, NY 11367
  • Bronx: Hostos Community College – 450 Grand Concourse, E. Building C, Bronx, NY 10451
  • Yonkers: Grinton I. Will Library – 1500 Central Park Ave, Yonkers, NY 10710
  • Westchester: Mamaroneck Village Court Clerk – 169 Mount Pleasant Ave, Mamaroneck, NY 10543
  • Staten Island: College of Staten Island, Gymnasium Building R1 – 2800 Victory Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10314
  • Nassau: Michael J. Tully Park Physical Activity Center – 1801 Evergreen Ave, New Hyde Park, NY 11040
  • Suffolk: Rose Caracappa Senior Center – 739 NY-25A, Mt Sinai, NY 11768

Links

• Hurrican Ida page at FEMA
• More FEMA assistance
• FAQ

SBA LOAN

If you were affected by Hurricane Ida, you might also be eligible for a low-interest loan.

Apply here for an SBA Loan

• Home and Property
  Apply by November 4, 2021.
  Homeowners can get up to $200,000 for damaged real estate, +20% if preventing future flood damage. Loan is based on damage incurred, as verified by an SBA inspector. It can only be used to replace or repair damage.
  Homeowners and renters can get up to $40,000 to repair or replace disaster-damaged personal property.
  
  Terms: Minimum 2.855%. For applicants unable to obtain credit elsewhere, the interest rate will not exceed 4 percent. For those who can obtain credit elsewhere, the interest rate will not exceed 8 percent. The SBA will determine whether an applicant can obtain credit elsewhere. SBA disaster loans are offered with up to 30-year terms.
  
• Business and nonprofits
  Apply by November 4, 2021.
  Up to $2 million to cover physical damage +20% if preventing future flood damage.
  
  Terms: Minimum 1.563% for businesses and 2% for nonprofits. The interest rate will not exceed 4 percent if you cannot obtain credit elsewhere. For businesses and nonprofit organizations with credit available elsewhere, the interest rate will not exceed 8 percent. SBA determines whether the applicant has credit available elsewhere. Repayment terms can be up to 30 years, depending on your ability to repay the loan.

• EIDL loans
  Apply by June 6, 2022.
  The SBA can provide up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses that could have been met had the disaster not occurred. Your loan amount will be based on your actual economic injury and your company’s financial needs, regardless of whether the business suffered any property damage.
  
  Eligibility and Terms: The interest rate on EIDLs will not exceed 4 percent per year. The term of these loans will not exceed 30 years. The repayment term will be determined by your ability to repay the loan. EIDL assistance is available only to small businesses when SBA determines they are unable to obtain credit elsewhere. A business may qualify for both an EIDL and a physical disaster loan. The maximum combined loan amount is $2 million. This loan is similar to the Covid EIDL loan.

More Helpful Information

IRS Tax Filing Extension

You have until Jan 3, 2022 to file any personal or business taxes, such as quarterly payroll, that would be due in September, October or November.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance

Similar to PUA (Pandemic Unemployment Assistance), if you lost your job due to a declared disaster, but are otherwise ineligible for regular Unemployment, you can claim up to 26 weeks of DUA.
More Information

NY Comptroller

If your sewers backed up and caused damage, you can file a claim with the City of New York. We haven’t seen any reports that this is a straightforward process, and don’t have high hopes for people getting funds through this process. It seems to be only if you can prove city negligence.