WASHINGTON, DC - The decision by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to exclude Sullivan County from its individual assistance program from the flooding disasters of earlier this year brought a strong request from Rep. Benjamin Gilman (NY-20) to Gov. George Pataki to urge the Federal Government to rectify the omission.

In a letter to Governor Pataki-who had joined with Gilman in requesting the Federal disaster program-Gilman stated, "I was pleased that the Federal Emergency Management Agency had added Sullivan County to its list of New York counties to receive Public Assistance (PA) funding from the Federal government. However, FEMA as the lead disaster agency has not granted the Individual Assistance (IA) status you had asked for in your August 16, 2000 letter to them."

Gilman continued, "I am informed that because Sullivan County was denied IA funding it will keep the Small Business Administration (SBA) from entering the area and providing low-interest SBA Disaster Loans to our constituents."

"According to our sources at SBA, in order to obtain SBA help for Sullivan County residents, it will be necessary for you to appeal FEMA's decision regarding IA status, which if granted would automatically bring in the SBA," noted Gilman. "If you choose not to appeal FEMA's decision, it will then be necessary for you to write directly to SBA requesting Disaster Loan Assistance to be made available to individuals, homeowners, renters and businesses who have suffered losses to their property and who would otherwise not be compensated by either FEMA or other New York State disaster relief programs."

"If we are ultimately unable to obtain the Individual Assistance funding you originally requested, I believe that at the very least the victims should be entitled to affordable loans to help them through the trauma they have gone through," Gilman concluded. "Accordingly, I urge you to either appeal FEMA's decision to not grant IA to the affected areas, or to make a direct application to the SBA for their help if their damages fall within the parameters of SBA's Disaster Loan guidelines."