$411 mn allocated for Sandy relief

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said Saturday it has approved more than $411 million for victims of Hurricane Sandy, which battered the U.S. Northeast. By 3 p.m. Saturday, more than 356,000 people in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey had registered for housing and other assistance, FEMA said in a release. "FEMA's focus remains on helping the survivors of Hurricane Sandy in a number of different ways," FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate was quoted as saying by the United Press International (UPI). With electrical power still not restored to all those affected by the mega storm,, FEMA said President Barack Obama approved an extension to the 100 percent cost-share for emergency work performed by state, tribal and local governments through Nov. 14. Total funding was originally to last 10 days, starting Oct. 31, for work performed to restore emergency power and emergency public transportation assistance. The Los Angeles Times said under 300,000 homes in New York, New Jersey and West Virginia were without power as of Saturday morning.