FEMA Individual Assistance: Individuals and Households
Depending on the severity and magnitude of the event and the damage, a federal Major Disaster Declaration may be declared. The disaster declaration may include Individual Assistance, which includes Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Individuals and Households Program. Under this program, disaster assistance may be provided as financial or direct assistance to individuals and families whose property has been damaged or destroyed as a result of the federally-declared disaster, and whose losses are not covered by insurance. The Individuals and Households Program, which is administered by FEMA, includes both housing assistance to assist disaster survivors with housing needs and other needs assistance for other eligible expenses. This program assists eligible individuals and households who have losses or needs not covered by insurance. It is not a substitute for insurance and cannot compensate fort all losses caused by a disaster. It is meant to meet the survivor's basic needs and supplement disaster recovery efforts. After a Major Disaster Declaration that includes Individual Assistance, MEMA will provide details and instructions for FEMA registration through the media, as well as our website and social media accounts.
Additional Resources
Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Assistance
In the absence of insurance coverage, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Program may offer low-interest disaster loans to businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations,homeowners, and renters. SBA disaster loans can be used to repair or replace the following items damaged or destroyed in a declared disaster: real estate, personal property, machinery and equipment, and inventory and business assets. SBA loans are based on the borrower’s credit worthiness and repayment ability, and repayment terms can be up to 30 years. SBA loans are available with a federal major disaster declaration or with a SBA agency disaster declaration.
SBA Loans with a Federal Major Disaster Declaration
When the President makes a federal major disaster declaration, the SBA automatically makes its low-interest loan programs available to qualifying businesses and private non-profit organizations that have suffered damages. Businesses may request an application for a low-interest loan by phone. All individual applicants who have applied for the Individual Assistance Program, unless low income, will receive an SBA application package. Additionally, SBA personnel are available at Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) to provide one-on-one assistance.
Individuals can also apply for SBA disaster loans as part of the FEMA Individual Assistance: Individuals and Households disaster assistance application process. All individuals automatically receive an SBA application package when they apply for the Individual Assistance Program.
SBA Loans Without a Federal Major Disaster Declaration
For smaller emergencies or disasters (such as fires, localized flooding, or other events) that do not qualify for a federal Major Disaster Declaration, MEMA and the SBA will evaluate damages with local emergency managers. MEMA works with the SBA to determine whether thresholds have been surpassed to qualify for an SBA administrative or agency disaster declaration which would provide low-interest loans to businesses, private non-profit organizations, homeowners, and renters to help them with disaster recovery.
If an administrative agency disaster declaration is declared by the SBA, a Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) may be established near so that the affected area applicants can sit with the SBA officials for assistance with the loan process.
Physical Disaster Loans
Criteria
At least 25 homes or 25 businesses (or a combination) have uninsured losses of 40 percent or more of the estimated fair replacement value or pre-disaster fair market value of the damaged property, whichever is lower.
Physical Disaster Loans
Physical Disaster Loans are a primary source of funding for permanent rebuilding and replacement of uninsured disaster damages to privately-owned real and/or personal property. These loans are available to qualifying homeowners, renters, non-farm businesses of all sizes, and non-profit organizations. Loans for personal property damage cover clothing, furniture, and automobiles, and are limited to $40,000. Real property loans are for repairing or restoring a home to its pre-disaster condition or to prevent future disaster damages, and are limited to $200,000.
Business Physical Disaster Loans
Business Physical Disaster Loans are a source of funding to repair or replace destroyed or damaged business facilities, inventory, machinery, equipment, and other assets not fully covered by insurance. They are limited to $2 million. Loans also are available to provide working capital during the disaster recovery period to small businesses in declared counties.
Economic Injury Disaster Loans
Criteria
For economic injury disaster loans, at least five businesses within a county have suffered substantial economic injury (40 percent or more uninsured losses in revenue each, as compared with the same time the previous year), and there is no reasonable financial assistance available in the area.
Economic Injury Disaster Loans
Economic Injury Disaster Loans provide businesses with necessary working capital until normal operations resume after a disaster. These loans are for small businesses and small agricultural cooperatives that are unable to obtain credit elsewhere, and are limited to $2 million. In major disasters, businesses in bordering counties may be eligible for loans as well.
Active Disaster and How to Apply
There are currently two open SBA disasters in Massachusetts. Click on the links below to access the SBA fact sheets for these disasters.
Disaster Loans: Record Breaking Snowfall and Extreme Cold Temperatures (January 26, 2015 – February 22, 2015) Economic Injury Disaster Application Filing Deadline: February 15, 2016
Disaster Loans: Brookside Condominium Complex Fire, Arlington, MA
Physical Damage Application Filing Deadline: CLOSED
Economic Injury Application Filing Deadline: March 11, 2016
Additional Resources
FEMA Public Assistance: Local, State, Tribal, and Non-Profit
After a disaster, MEMA works with local, state, and federal partners to assess damage and determine what assistance programs, if any, may be available. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance (PA) may reimburse government agencies and non-profits for disaster response and recovery costs after a disaster declaration.
FEMA’s PA Grant Program is designed to provide supplemental financial assistance in the form of reimbursements to state, local, and tribal government and certain types of private non-profit organizations whose buildings or infrastructures were damaged by a disaster. The program can assist with costs associated with response and recovery from major disasters or emergencies after a presidential declaration. This can include debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the repair, replacement or restoration of disaster-damaged, publicly owned facilities and the facilities of certain Private Non-Profit (PNP) organizations. The PA Program also encourages protection of these damaged facilities from future events by providing assistance through post disaster hazard mitigation grants.
The federal share of assistance typically covers 75% of the eligible costs for emergency measures and permanent restoration. The remaining 25% non-federal share is generally the responsibility of the individual program applicant. The PA Program is administered through a coordinated effort between the FEMA, MEMA (recipient), and the applicants (subrecipients).
Disaster Declarations
Active Declarations
There are no active disaster declarations at this time.
Previous Disasters
For information on historical declared disasters in Massachusetts, see FEMA Disaster Declarations
The Public Assistance Grant Program Process
Initial Steps
After a natural or man-made event that causes extensive damage, MEMA coordinates with FEMA and impacted local and state agencies to begin the Public Assistance (PA) Grant Program process.
- Initial Damage Assessment (IDA): The process generally starts with the state (MEMA) conducting a pre-assessment, or initial damage assessment with impacted local and state agencies to determine the scope and magnitude of an event.
- Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA): If needed, state and federal officials may conduct a Preliminary Damage Assessment, a joint assessment used to determine the magnitude and impact of an event's damage. The State uses the results of the PDA to determine the extent of damages and economic impact on the entire state. If the total of these costs for both the affected counties and the state exceed the amount of assistance the state is able to provide, as established by the current fiscal year threshold developed by FEMA (which is adjusted annually based on the consumer price index), the incident may then become eligible for a Public Assistance declaration.
- Governor’s Request: The Governor uses the PDA results to determine if the situation is beyond the combined capabilities of the state and local resources, verify the need for supplemental Federal assistance, and, if appropriate, to create a request for a federal Major Disaster Declaration to the President.
- Declaration: Based on the Governor's request, the President may declare that a major disaster or emergency exists, thus activating various federal programs, such as the Public Assistance Grant Program to assist in the response and recovery effort. Not all programs, however, are activated for every disaster. The determination of which assistance programs are activated is based on the needs found during the damage assessment and any subsequent information that may be discovered
Post Declaration
If the request for a federal Disaster Declaration is granted, additional steps take place as part of the program:
- Applicants’ Briefing: Agencies or organizations who may apply for PA attend to learn about the eligibility requirements and what costs will be reimbursed by the federal government (The federal government pays at least 75% of approved costs/projects. The municipality or organization is responsible for remaining costs.) After a disaster declaration, MEMA will announce details of scheduled applicant briefings.
- Request for Public Assistance: An eligible applicant completes an application to make an official request for PA.
- Kickoff Meeting: State and/or federal officials meet with individual applicants who have been approved to receive PA. Officials review details of approved projects and answer questions specific to the applicant and/or the project.
- Project formulation: The applicant provides detailed documentation on scope(s) of work and cost(s) incurred for the project.
- Project review: Federal officials review documentation and validate expenses that are eligible for reimbursement.
- Obligation: FEMA funds are forwarded to the State, and the State pays the individual applicants using a state contract process.
- Project closeout: Applicants submit all required documentation and certify work was completed in accordance with all pertinent federal, state and local laws and regulations
Eligibility
Eligible Applicants
The Public Assistance program provides cost reimbursement aid to local governments (state, local, municipal authorities, and school districts) and certain private non-profit agencies (educational institutions, utilities, emergency services, medical facilities, custodial care facilities and others that provide health and safety services of a governmental nature). All must be open to the general public and have IRS or state certification of their private, non-profit status.
Eligible Facilities
Generally, buildings, works, systems, built or manufactured equipment and certain improved and maintained natural features which are owned by a public or private non-profit entity are considered eligible.
Eligible Work
BASIC CRITERIA - Must be required as a result of the Presidentially-declared Major Disaster, be located within the designated disaster area, be the legal responsibility of an eligible applicant, and no other federal agency may have statutory authority to provide funding.
DEBRIS REMOVAL - When in the public interest to eliminate an immediate threat to life, public health and safety; OR eliminate an immediate threat of significant damage to improved property; OR to ensure the economic recovery of the affected community.
EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE MEASURES - Measures taken to save lives, protect public health and safety, and to protect improved property. Must eliminate or lessen the threat.
PERMANENT RESTORATION - Restore the disaster-damaged parts of the facility to pre-disaster condition and function, plus upgrade restored parts to meet current codes and standards. Road systems, water control facilities, buildings and equipment, public utility systems, and parks / recreation facilities are the general categories of property eligible. In certain circumstances FEMA may replace a facility if cost of repair is more than 50% of replacement cost.
Eligible Costs
FORCE ACCOUNT - (Applicant's own labor, equipment, and materials) - Equipment use at FEMA use rates, materials at applicant's cost, labor at applicant's cost including fringe benefits. The cost of regular time labor of permanent employees performing debris removal and emergency protective measures is not eligible.
CONTRACT - Reasonable and necessary costs to perform required and FEMA-approved work. All contracting and procurement laws must be followed. Contracting is the responsibility of the applicant.
FEMA makes final determinations about eligibility as it relates to applicants, facilities, work and costs.
Resources and Forms