09/04/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/04/2024 16:08
As part of its commitment to helping make communities stronger and more resilient, FEMA provides assistance to eligible homeowners affected by the South Fork and Salt Fires and flooding to help repair or rebuild stronger, more durable homes.
If your property was damaged by the wildfires and floods, you may be eligible for financial assistance from FEMA's Individuals and Households Program (IHP). Additional Home Repair Assistance may be available to you for specific mitigation measures based on the cause and amount of damage to your home.
In addition, you may qualify for a long-term, low-interest disaster loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) that can be used to make property improvements that may prevent future damage and save lives.
After receiving your eligibility letter from FEMA, you may receive a follow up letter explaining the mitigation measures. Home Repair Assistance from FEMA for mitigation measures is limited and will only be provided for elements of the home that were present and functional before they were damaged by the fires or flooding.
State, tribal, and local government requirements may differ from FEMA's guidance and recommendations. Therefore, before including the recommended mitigation measures into home repairs, you should work with your local building department to make sure all requirements are being met.
If the damage was caused by flooding and your community participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, you should contact your local floodplain administrator to learn more about flood mitigation measures appropriate to your home type and geographic area. (To contact your State Floodplain Manager, visit floods.org and click on State Floodplain Managers State Contacts.)
If you have questions regarding your hazard mitigation award or other IHP assistance, call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m., MT for more information. Help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service.
Up to two years after your SBA disaster loan is approved, you can request a loan increase of up to 20% to make building upgrades. Mitigation increases can be up to $500,000 for homeowners and $2 million for businesses. Even simple mitigation projects can strengthen your home or business so you can avoid damage and unexpected remediation expenditures in the future.
Call SBA at 800-659-2955 to ask about increasing your loan for mitigation purposes or visit https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance/mitigation-assistance for more information. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 7-1-1. There is no cost to apply, and you are under no obligation to accept a loan if approved.