President Biden Authorizes Targeted Disaster Relief for Individuals in New London County to Assist in Recovery from Hurricane Ida

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) released the following statement today after President Joe Biden granted a Major Disaster Declaration for the state of Connecticut, triggering the release of funds through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA) to help people recover from the remnants of Hurricane Ida. Specifically, the President's declaration authorizes the release of Individual Assistance through FEMA to impacted residents in Fairfield and New London Counties, including the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and the Mohegan Tribal Nation. A request for Public Assistance from Middlesex County is still pending review.

FEMA's Individual Assistance programs require a Presidential disaster or emergency declaration, and they can help with a wide range of challenges following a disaster—from direct financial assistance to help families and small businesses make ends meet, to disaster unemployment insurance and re-employment services, crisis counseling, and more. The President's disaster declaration also makes local businesses, non-profit organizations, homeowners, and renters eligible to apply for SBA disaster loans.

"Eastern Connecticut hung in tough through Hurricane Ida, but my office still heard from a lot of homeowners and small business owners dealing with disruptions and unforeseen expenses as a result of the storm. For them, this disaster declaration means a chance to get direct, targeted relief through FEMA and the SBA—funding that will help folks make repairs they need to keep their houses whole and their businesses running smoothly as we head into the winter months," said Rep. Courtney. "Step one was getting this disaster declaration, now we've got to make sure people know how to apply for it. My office is pressing FEMA and the SBA to engage and provide more information directly to people and businesses in our region, and we'll be doing more direct outreach. I encourage all residents, homeowners, and small business owners in eastern Connecticut who were impacted by Hurricane Ida to call my office with questions—our phone lines are open, and we're here to help."

On Sunday, in a letter to SBA Administrator Isabella Guzman and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, Courtney and the Connecticut Congressional delegation requested that the SBA and FEMA hold a series of briefings in Connecticut to publicly discuss the application and funding processes for various disaster relief programs—click here to read the letter.

FEMA's Individual Assistance programs help connect disaster survivors to a wide range of recovery services and programs. For example, the Individuals and Households Program (IHP) provides financial assistance to individuals and households who have uninsured or underinsured necessary expenses and serious needs. The Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) program provides unemployment benefits and re-employment assistance to eligible survivors who are not eligible for regular state unemployment insurance. Other programs include crisis counseling, disaster legal services, and more. Click here to learn more.

The SBA provides low-interest disaster loans to help businesses and homeowners recover from Presidentially declared disasters. Businesses of all sizes located in disaster areas, private non-profit organizations, homeowners, and renters impacted by declared disasters, which include natural disasters like wildfire, flooding, and hurricanes. Click here to learn more.

FEMA offers multiple options for disaster survivors to access Individual Assistance. Individuals may apply for IHP assistance or check their application status online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or by downloading FEMA's smartphone application at www.FEMA.gov or through their mobile provider's application store. Disaster survivors may call the FEMA toll-free helpline at 800-621-3362 (TTY: 800-462-7585) to register for assistance, or to check their application status.

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