The Alternative Press

SCOTCH PLAINS/FANWOOD, NJ -  Local business and home owners still have time to apply for assistance or for a loan in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.  The deadline for survivors to register with FEMA for federal disaster assistance and return SBA disaster loan applications has been moved to Monday, April 1.

As of March 4, the total amounts given to victims of the Hurricane are:

• $2.5 billion in total National Flood Insurance Program claims payments made to date
• $365.9 million in FEMA grants approved for individuals and households
• $317.1 million for housing assistance
• $48.7 million for other needs
• $550.5 million in SBA disaster loans approved for homeowners, renters and businesses
• $187.9 million approved in FEMA Public Assistance grants to communities and some nonprofit organizations that serve the public
• 258,123 people contacted FEMA for help or information
• 123,454 housing inspections completed
• 79,498 visits to Disaster Recovery Centers
• Nine centers are open to assist survivors who have recovery questions

Survivors can register online and check on the status of their applications at DisasterAssistance.gov, via smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov. They also can call 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585.  

Additional resources are available online at FEMA.gov/SandyNJ and SBA.gov/Sandy.