Report: FEMA denies victims of Halloween flooding individual assistance

After approving public assistance in December for 18 counties that were impacted by a Halloween flood, FEMA has now denied individual assistance to homeowners and residents affected by the devastation.

The information stems from a letter, which was recently sent to the Governor’s office in Albany, NY.

FEMA’s approval for public assistance was designed for debris cleanup and restoring roads and bridges. A threshold of nearly $30-million was required for the counties in order to qualify for the funding.

In a statement provided to reporters from WKTV, Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente Jr. expressed his frustration with FEMA.

“We have marshaled our government personnel and resources to assist during emergencies,” he said. “We expect the federal government and the state to do the same when it comes to getting monetary assistance into the hands of residents who are suffering."

Governor Andrew Cuomo reportedly has thirty-days to appeal the decision on individual assistance.