Date With Isabel Costly For North Carolina
Release Date: March 15, 2004
Release Number: R4-04-064
ATLANTA, Ga. -- State and federal assistance to North Carolina following Hurricane Isabel neared the $168 million mark at the six-month anniversary of the most serious storm of the 2003 hurricane season.
Isabel was directly responsible for 16 deaths as she roared across eight states and the District of Columbia, one in North Carolina.
President Bush declared 47 counties a federal disaster area on September 18, clearing the way for families to get financial assistance for housing, personal losses and medical care and to help local agencies pay for restoration and repair of public property.
More than 54,000 residents registered for aid in recovering from losses suffered in the storm, the only hurricane to threaten the mainland that year. The applications of 32,131 were approved for direct assistance for housing and other needs.
To date the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the state have disbursed $22.8 million for temporary housing or home repair, $22 million for other personal losses not covered by insurance and $45.2 million to governments, public utilities and eligible private non-profit organizations.
In addition, the U.S. Small Business Administration has approved low-interest loans to 2,741 applicants worth $77.5 million for home or business repair or replacement and to recover from economic injury caused by the storm.
Public assistance projects are still being completed in the affected communities.
Also, 7.5 percent of federal spending on the disaster will generate money for hazard mitigation in North Carolina’s. These are projects anywhere in the state that will reduce the danger to life and property in future disasters of any kind.
On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Last Modified: Thursday, 16-Feb-2006 10:11:44