CUOMO ANNOUNCES OPENING OF DISASTER RESPONSE OFFICE IN NORTH CAROLINA TO HELP FLOOD VICTIMS REBUILD THEIR HOMES

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo today announced the opening of a disaster relief response office to speed up efforts to repair and rebuild the homes of families flooded out by Hurricane Floyd late last year.

Congresswoman Eva Clayton and HUD Secretary's Representative for the Southeast and Caribbean Davey Gibson attended the official opening of the office in the Parkhill Mall at 1600 Howard Avenue in Tarboro, NC.

"The HUD recovery office will allow us to respond more quickly to the needs of families in eastern North Carolina still rebuilding their lives in the aftermath of Hurricane Floyd, and will help spur the economic revitalization of the areas hit hardest," Cuomo said.

"I applaud HUD's efforts in setting up this center that will help repair and rebuild homes that were destroyed in the hurricane, as well as help local businesses get back on their feet," said Congresswoman Clayton.

The office will provide technical assistance to areas in Edgecombe, Lenoir, Wayne, Nash, Pitt and Wilson Counties, and the Town of Princeville, as well as additional capital improvement funding for public housing. HUD staff will also work with local officials in surrounding areas to develop regional economic revitalization plans.

The office, under the direction of Marvin Turner, will be staffed with HUD specialists dealing with Multifamily Housing, public housing, single-family housing and community planning and development.

Others officials at the office opening included: James E. Blackmon, Coordinator for HUD's North Carolina State Office, Greensboro; Jack Bond, Special Assistant on Housing for North Carolina's Hurricane Floyd Recovery Center; and Fred Williams, Mayor Pro-Tem, Tarboro, North Carolina.

To date, HUD has provided flood assistance to North Carolina through the acceleration of funding in the following programs: $10 million in funding for public housing; $12 million in HOME grants for housing rehabilitation; and $34 million in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG).

In addition, HUD has provided waivers in both CDBG and HOME programs, giving North Carolina more flexibility in administering these programs. HUD also worked with the State to establish a housing counseling program for flood victims in approximately 20 counties.