STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Federal and state emergency officials yesterday toured parts of West Brighton that were hammered by Wednesday's tornado and thunderstorms to determine if any homeowners qualify for federal assistance.

The officials took pictures and notes and plan to file a report to Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters in Washington with an assessment of what they found, said John C. Rights, a FEMA disaster assistance specialist.

It is too early to tell when a decision about whether homeowners will qualify for aid in the form of grants and low-interest loans, he said.

"We're just assessing the damage," Rights said, adding that most of the destruction he had observed was caused by wind and would normally be covered by homeowners insurance. "Everything is wind damage. What we're seeing is stuff that's ordinarily covered by insurance."

The early-morning storm blew out windows, leveled trees and crushed cars under giant limbs in West Brighton, New Brighton, Tompkinsville, Port Richmond and Grasmere. A tornado, which started in West Brighton, made its way across the harbor to Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, where several homes and cars were seriously damaged. FEMA crews also inspected neighborhoods in Brooklyn yesterday.

Rights, along with representatives from Congressman Vito Fossella's office, the city Department of Emergency Management, the state Emergency Management Office and the state Small Business Administration toured about 35 homes and businesses that suffered damage. Fossella's office had compiled a list of many of the homeowners who were affected.

"This was a critical step as we work to help residents recover from the storm," Fossella said. "I will be working closely with the federal, city and state officials in the coming days to ensure that resources are available for residents and businesses impacted by the storm and that every action is taken to provide comprehensive assistance for those in need."

Kathryn Sullivan, a Henderson Avenue resident, had a large pear tree uprooted during the storm, damaging siding of her house, crushing plantings and a barbecue grill and creating a mess in her backyard.

"We don't know what's going to be covered" by insurance, she said. "It pleases me that they came down and acknowledged that something happened. Compensation would be nice since homeowners insurance [might not] cover as much as is going to be needed."

For anyone who hasn't reported damage or wants to inquire about assistance from FEMA, contact the agency at 800-621-FEMA or Fossella's office at 718-356-8400.

Staten Islanders who were affected by April's nor'easter, which dumped 8 inches of rain on the borough, were recently awarded more than $5.5 million in emergency assistance from the federal government.

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