N.C. receives FEMA assistance

Gov. Beverly Purdue received a federal disaster declaration from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the flooding that devastated homeowners in 6 eastern North Carolina counties following Tropical Storm Nicole earlier this month.

“These floods impacted hundreds of families across eastern North Carolina,” said Perdue, who pushed for the FEMA assistance.

The declaration makes available low-interest loans or grants to storm survivors to help them repair their homes in Beaufort, Bertie, Craven, Hertford, Onslow and Tyrrell counties, according to a release from the N.C. Office of the Governor.

Residents in those 6 counties can apply for low-interest federal loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration in the following amounts: homeowners up to $240,000 and renters up to $40,000.

Any who don't qualify for loans may be eligible for FEMA assistance.

County, state, and federal emergency management teams spent most of last week assessing damages in 21 counties.

FEMA denies state disaster ruling after Hermine

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has denied Gov. Rick Perry's request for a major disaster declaration for Texas following Tropical Storm Hermine.

The storm caused major flooding when it hit Central Texas last month.

The governor requested individual and public assistance for a total of 13 counties, including 5 in Central Texas. He also applied for hazard prevention statewide.

In its response, FEMA said the damage from the storm was not so severe or large, that the state shouldn't be able to handle it with state, local and nonprofit resources.

Rick Perry can submit an appeal within 30 days.

FEMA rejects disaster aid for San Bruno

The federal government has rejected the state's request for disaster aid for the deadly natural gas pipeline explosion in San Bruno.

The decision, an appeal of which is likely, means the state will not receive millions of dollars in disaster relief money to cover the costs of the calamity.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) determined the damage was "not of such severity and magnitude" as to overwhelm the state and local agencies that responded to the September 9 blast, according to the letter that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger received from the agency Friday. The letter goes on to say that help from other sources, including PG&E, will be enough to meet the needs of the event.

However, FEMA will reimburse the state for up to 75 % of the firefighting costs, agency spokesman Bradley Carroll wrote.

But San Bruno Mayor Jim Ruane, who testified before a Senate committee on pipeline safety Tuesday, said Schwarzenegger plans to appeal the decision. Ruane said he was surprised and disagreed with FEMA's conclusion that the city will be able to pay for the response and cleanup.