Hurricane Ida Grant Deadline Extended to March 15th

by Kathy Savolt and Cindy Goldstein -

Volunteers with laptops were deep in conversation with Village residents, helping them apply for flood damage reimbursement due to Hurricane Ida and also secure funding to protect their homes against future floods.  The Village Courtroom was abuzz with activity.

Although Hurricane Ida devastated parts of the Village back in 2021, money is now available for eligible homeowners.  The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provided grant money to be administered by New York State.  More than 25 people came to the first workshop last Thursday evening and 19 attended the second workshop on Saturday.

The filing deadline for the hurricane relief grant has been extended to March 15th, providing residents more time to apply.  Volunteer Donyella Todaro-Bierman encouraged people to apply, even if their current income exceeds the limits, as the standards may be loosened in the future if the full grant amount is not claimed.  To qualify, applicants must live in the home as their primary residence and have owned and occupied the property at the time of Hurricane Ida.

Trustee Nora Lucas worked with Tom Flahive who lives on North Barry Avenue near First Street.  He purchased his home in 2013 and was under contract to buy it during Superstorm Sandy.  There was no flooding on his property then, but Hurricane Ida was a different story.  His entire basement flooded with 8 feet of water that also destroyed his first floor.  The insurance company only paid half of the $100,000 worth of damage.  Flahive is looking for reimbursement for what insurance didn’t cover as well as to fund future flooding mitigation work to redirect water from his gutters and leaders away from the house.

Habitat for Humanity Programs Manager Marnie Henricksson said the application takes an average of 30-45 minutes to complete depending on whether or not the applicant has documentation. 

Bottom Line: Don’t hesitate to apply and check the Village of Mamaroneck website for more information about future workshops.