DISASTER ASSISTANCE

After a Presidential Disaster Declaration has been declared, the 1st step for individuals or businesses that require assistance is to call: TOLL FREE HOTLINE Federal Emergency Management Agency 1 (800) 621-3362 1 (800) 462-7585 (TTY)

Assistance is available for affected individuals and businesses after a Presidential disaster declaration. The 1st step for individuals or busineses that require assistance it to call the Federal Emergency Mananagement Agency's National Tele-registration Center at 1(800) 637-3362 or 1(800) 462-7585 (tty). Once an application is processed, further assistance may be coordinated through a Disaster Recovery Center established in declared counties or regionally. Representatives of federal, state, local, and volunteer organizations are made available to help disaster victims who are applying for assistance.

There are a wide range of individual disaster assistance programs including:

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (SBA)

Once implemented, the SBA program can offer low interest loans to individuals and businesses for refinancing, repair, rehabilitation, or replacement of damaged property (real and personal). Loans may be available to businesses which have suffered an economic impact as a result of the disaster. A SBA declaration can be made independently or in concert with a Presidential Disaster Declaration. With a SBA independent disaster declaration there must be a minimum of twenty-five homes or businesses with 40 percent or more uninsured losses and/or five businesses with substantial economic or physical losses.

FEMA DISASTER ASSISTANCE FOR INDIVIDUALS AND HOUSEHOLDS

There are two primary types of disaster assistance made available through FEMA - Housing Assistance and Other Needs Assistance. These programs help individuals and are often referred to as Individual Assistance, or IA. The total assistance an individual can receive from FEMA from any combination of these programs is $25,600 for any disaster.

1. Housing Assistance

Housing Assistance grants are provided with no cost share to individual recipients. The cost of this assistance is funded 100 percent by FEMA.

Lodging reimbursement is available to homeowners and renters whose permanent homes are rendered uninhabitable.

Minimal home repairs grants are available to homeowners who do not have insurance or cannot qualify for an SBA loan but otherwise could quickly return to their homes by making repairs. These grants cannot exceed $5,100. FEMA requires homeowners to maintain repair receipts for three years.

A maximum of $10,200 may be awarded to homeowners who do not have insurance or cannot qualify for an SBA loan to apply toward the replacement of a primary residence destroyed in the declared disaster event.

2. Other Needs Assistance (ONA)

Other Needs Assistance grants are provided with no cost share to individual recipients. The cost of this assistance is funded at 75 percent by FEMA and 25 percent by the State of Florida.

The ONA grants are available to meet serious disaster related needs and necessary expenses not covered by insurance and other Federal, State, or voluntary agencies. This includes medical, dental, funeral, personal property, transportation, moving and storage, and other expenses authorized by law.

DISASTER UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE

Individuals unemployed as a result of a major disaster, and not covered by regular state or private unemployment insurance programs, may be eligible for unemployment benefits. The weekly compensation received will not exceed the maximum amount of payment under Florida's Unemployment Compensation Program, and may be provided until an individual is re-employed or up to twenty-six weeks after the major disaster is declared (whichever is shorter).

FARM SERVICE AGENCY (FSA)

Low interest disaster loans are made available to farmers, ranchers and agricultural operators for physical or production losses. Loans of up to 80 percent of actual production loss or 100 percent of the actual physical loss, with a maximum indebtedness of $500,000, may be made to either the tenant or owner of the agricultural business.

INCOME TAX SERVICE

The Internal Revenue Service helps victims identify ways in which the disaster affects their federal income tax. Casualty loss credits, early tax refunds and information on lost documentation are some services available to disaster victims.

FOOD COUPONS

Emergency food coupons may be made available to disaster victims. This program is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture at the federal level and the Florida Department of Children and Families at the state level. Length of eligibility for receiving food coupons will be determined by the President.

COMMUNITY RELATIONS

The Federal Emergency Management Agency and state officials will conduct "outreach" activities in an effort to inform disaster victims concerning what programs are available, where the Disaster Recovery Centers are located and hours of operation. This outreach will be accomplished by utilizing all media resources and by assembling and deploying outreach teams to remote areas to inform residents of assistance efforts.

DISASTER RELATED CRISIS COUNSELING

Professional services are provided to help relieve disaster related stress and prevent the development of more serious physical and mental health problems.

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE

Assistance and information about resolving insurance claims are provided.

LEGAL ASSISTANCE

Provides free legal advice to low income individuals who require assistance because of a disaster.

FEMA INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE (IA)
FRAUD PREVENTION STRATEGIES

1. An applicant registers by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Only those persons living in the declared county are eligible. A Social Security Number and the description of the losses caused by the disaster and the location of the damaged property must be given to the FEMA person who receives the call. This information is recorded as data and can be used as evidence, if needed.

2. A contract inspector working for FEMA visits the damaged site, verifies ownership, insurance availability, other resources, and then determines eligible cost for damages caused by the disaster. This information is filed with FEMA but the inspector does not determine an applicant’s eligibility.

3. Any money that an eligible applicant receives must be used for the specific purpose, such as rent, repairs, or other needs. If money is not spent for eligible costs, the applicant will receive no additional help from this program and all money must be paid back to FEMA. Receipts for expenditure must be kept for three years.

4. FEMA sponsors a Fraud Hotline at 1-800-435-7352 to report someone that may be filing false damage claims. Note: It is a violation of Federal law to file a false claim.

5. FEMA contract inspectors do a sampling check of eligible applicants to determine if FEMA money has been spent according to the intent of the assistance program.

6. Reports of possible fraud result in investigations and can result in criminal charges being filed. If convicted, applicants could face reimbursement of FEMA funds and other court actions.