FEMA
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Disaster Assistance
Federal disaster relief is divided into direct grants from FEMA (money that does not need to be repaid) and low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
FEMA
DisasterAssistance.gov
FEMA’s app
Preliminary Damage Assessment Guide - July 2025
While FEMA directly assists individuals and certain non-profit organizations, FEMA does not provide direct financial assistance to small businesses. Business assistance is handled through the SBA.
1. Homeowners
FEMA and the SBA work together to cover primary residences (secondary or vacation homes are ineligible unless extended family members reside in them or they are rentals in which case they are considered a small business):
FEMA Grants (Individuals and Households Program - IHP):
Housing Assistance: Funds for temporary rental housing, lodging reimbursement (hotels/motels), and basic repairs to make a home safe, sanitary, and functional.
Hazard Mitigation: Additional grant funds to rebuild damaged structural elements stronger to withstand future disasters.
Serious Needs & Other Needs Assistance (ONA): Upfront funds for immediate essentials (food, water, medicine), essential home appliances, accessibility modifications, private roads/bridges, and vehicle repairs.
Maximum Grant is: $34,900 2018 - all assistance except rent. And other $34,900 for medical assistance etc. Not including rent. Very rare that anyone would get this, but technically there are two funds and an individual can get up to the maximum on both of them, plus rental assistance.
Other needs are often, tools used for employment, vehicles, computers, supplies, clothing, medical, dental, funeral and other essential expenses.
Rules: You supposed to use the money for what provided the funding for. Example: if they get the money to repair their house and buy a computer instead, FEMA might verify and would then ask for
Must have an uninsured disaster loss. If your insurance company is not responding to you, then you might be able to get FEMA funding, but when/if your insurance company does pay, you are expected to pay it back.
Home must be located in a designated disaster area. There are different levels of designation, you need to be cautious and ensure that your county was fully declared. There might also be other counties that will have a lesser amount of grant money available to them. The county level is the smallest geographical determinator.
Every person who has damage from a specific disaster should apply, even if they are not in the disaster declared county, as it is possible that as time goes on the other county might be included.
If you were not living in the property where the disaster occurred you are not eligible for benefits. Routinely, providing a utility bill that will be sufficient. You could also get statements from other people, if they are declared under penalty of perjury.
Prior disaster documentation, if possible it is really helpful have photos, video of your home prior to the disaster, which can be compared with after. Its very important to make sure that everything that was lost is reported.
If your home is in a declared flood zone and you do not have flood insurance, then FEMA will not provide funding. You can find out whether or not you are supposed to have NFIP - National Flood Insurance Plan coverage. To find a current flood map click here. This follows the land, which means you may not know that the property is in a flood plan.
FEMA does not reimburse for evacuation expenses.
Business losses can be covered, but not through the individual household program (see ____).
FEMA inspectors routinely are contractors or new hires and not veteran disaster workers. This is can make a significant difference in their accuracy.
Be sure to apply whether you have insurance or not.
The damage must be disaster related. FEMA may say there was damage or deferred maintenance with roof damage for example. This despite the fact that they do not go onto the roof and are using “inspectors” who often have only weeks of employment in the disaster industry or FEMA.
Note: We often ran into issues where the FEMA representatives at Post Disaster Assessments had no background in construction, real estate, appraising and were not able to determine the difference between a concrete slab foundation or a crawlspace. We’ve had psychologists, recent college grads, folks who had just come from a volunteer position, etc. Please see appeals below.
2. Renters
Renters qualify for FEMA grants and SBA personal property loans to cover displacement and lost belongings:
FEMA Grants (IHP):
Rental & Lodging Assistance: Financial aid to pay for temporary housing or hotel stays while displaced.
Personal Property & Serious Needs: Grants to replace destroyed clothing, furniture, essential electronics, tools required for work, or vehicles damaged in the disaster.
Moving & Storage: Coverage for costs incurred to move and store belongings to prevent further damage.
3. Non-Profits
Assistance for private non-profit (PNP) organizations depends on whether they provide "critical services":
FEMA Public Assistance (PA) Grants:
Available to Critical PNPs (schools, medical facilities, utilities, emergency services) and Non-Critical PNPs that provide essential governmental-type services (community centers, senior centers, food banks). Grants cover emergency protective measures, debris removal, and facility restoration.
Inspections:
Routinely, an “Inspector” will be scheduled after your application is complete. Depending on the size and severity of the disaster you can expect the inspector visit in about a week (they often have a week or two of training). They will not go on the roof or under the house - you can provide them with images. Routinely, they will then provide a determination in about a week. How FEMA makes there determination is not known, routinely we have found that it is often averaging $4,000 per house hold. We have talked with people who were given $700 to replace a roof.
Appeals:
Appealing a FEMA grant: You can - and should - appeal we have found initial grants of $4,000 that will double. The key is appeal, appeal, appeal.
Use DisasterAssistance.gov to check your application status. Routinely, they will provide a written decision in 90 days.
To ensure your appeal is processed without delays, make sure your submission contains:
Your Information: Full name, disaster-damaged primary address, current address, current phone number, and your FEMA registration/application number on every page.
A Signed Appeal Letter: A written explanation of why you disagree with FEMA's decision.
Declaration Statement: The letter must include and be signed under the statement: "I hereby declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct."
Supporting Documentation: Depending on your reason for appeal, attach documents such as insurance denial/settlement papers, contractor estimates for home repairs, receipts for disaster-related expenses, or proof of occupancy/ownership.
Stafford act governed other agencies that provide disaster assistance funding:
