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Press Release
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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| March 15, 2004 |
Contact: AoA Press Office
(202) 401-4634 |
AoA Provides Disaster Relief To Older Victims Of Flooding In
Virginia
Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary
for Aging, Josefina G. Carbonell, recently awarded $20,000 to
the Virginia Department for the Aging for a flooding disaster
that occurred in Southwest Virginia in mid-November, 2003.
The areas hardest hit were Tazewell and Buchanan counties and the isolated
areas of Russell and Dickenson. At least 360 homes and two businesses were
damaged or destroyed. 126 older residents needed temporary shelter, counseling
and assistance.“
AoA disaster relief funds are needed to provide critical disaster
relief services and advocacy for older victims,” said Josefina
G. Carbonell. “Many seniors living in the Commonwealth
of Virginia were devastated by the severe storms and flooding
that occurred on November 18-19. AoA’s award of these funds
will help the Virginia Department for the Aging increase their
supportive services to older Virginians who need assistance in
rebuilding their lives,” said Carbonell.
The Virginia Department for the Aging will use these funds to reimburse the
Appalachian Agency for Senior Citizens who are helping older residents restore
their lives. The Area Agency has spent many extra hours assessing the damage,
counseling and helping older persons complete the paperwork for financial assistance,
and referring people to appropriate agencies. Many hours have been spent helping
people return to their own home or a new housing arrangement."
We know that seniors often take a bit longer to recover from disasters of this
magnitude, and we want to be able to provide needed assistance to help them
get back on their feet. Our funding fills in for services and activities that
older people need that are not provided through other emergency resources," Carbonell
added. For additional information on AoA’s national disaster preparedness
and response activities, please contact Irma Tetzloff at (202) 357-3525.
| Last Modified: 7/16/2009 9:06:18 AM |
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