On the eve of the one-month anniversary of Sandy, federal and local officials are still tallying the damage caused in Rhode Island by the ex-hurricane that sideswiped New England.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency recently raised its projection of damage to public infrastructure from about $5.5 million, shortly after the storm, to $14 million. The agency has received 53 applications from municipalities and public-service agencies and many are still being refined.
The agency is processing 349 applications for federal aid from homeowners and renters who suffered losses to uninsured property, according to Art Alejandre, a public information officer. So far, the agency has distributed $186,000.
Businesses, which are not covered by FEMA, may seek low-interest loans from the Small Business Administration. The SBA is processing 327 loan applications.