Islip helping people file for storm aid

Islip Town’s Office of Emergency Management is offering to help local businesses and nonprofits affected by flooding during Tropical Storm Irene apply for newly available state money.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced late last month the Hurricane Irene-Tropical Storm Lee Business Flood Recovery Grant Program, administered by the Empire State Development Corp., would make available $21 million in individual grants up to $20,000 for eligible small businesses, farms, multiple dwellings and nonprofits that sustained flood-related damage.

While Irene was downgraded to a tropical storm as it passed over Long Island, restrengthening as it moved upstate, Islip emergency management director Rick Gimbl said his office learned Long Islanders were eligible and his department stands ready to assist local applicants.

Applications must be postmarked by March 16. The money is designed to be spent on storm-related repairs, restoration of structures and any other storm-related costs which either have not, nor can be, compensated by any other federal, state or local recovery program or insurance.

Preference will be given to applicants showing “greatest need, based on available flood damage data provided by applicable federal agencies,” according to the state guidelines.
Gimbl said his office has reached out to local chambers of commerce to spread word of the program. Applicants need to show their losses occurred on or after Aug. 28 in relation to Irene, and on or after Sept. 7 in connection with Lee.

Assistance would be calculated at 50 percent of an applicant’s “net eligible loss” — defined as the outstanding storm-related cost a business owner faces after reimbursements are subtracted from the total eligible loss.

Above: A fallen tree on Carleton Avenue in East Islip, courtesy of Tropical Storm Irene. (Aug. 28, 2011)