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FEMA Update: Flood Survivors Urged to Register for Housing Assistance

7/18/2016
Individual Assistance Update (as of COB July 17)
•        Total registrations: 7,404
•        Total Individuals and Households Program grants approved: more than $31 million
•        Housing Assistance: more than $26.2 million
•        Other Needs Assistance: more than $4.7 million
•        Total DRC visits: 4,464
•        Number of low-interest disaster loans from SBA approved: 145
•        Total low-interest disaster loans approved by SBA: more than $9.3 million
Key Messages
•        The state of West Virginia and FEMA continue to urge anyone with housing needs caused by the   severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides on June 22-29 to register for disaster assistance. Visit www.DisasterAssistance.gov
 
•        Call toll-free 800-621-3362 (voice, 711 or video relay services) or 800-462-7585 (TTY). Lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.
 
The goal of the state and FEMA is to place survivors in temporary rentals in or near their pre-disaster community. FEMA offers eligible survivors several types of housing assistance:
•        Rental assistance: Grants from FEMA may pay for short-term rentals for eligible homeowners and renters whose homes are uninhabitable or inaccessible due to the disaster.
 
•        Home Repair Grants: FEMA may offer grants to eligible homeowners to help pay for repairs of their disaster-damaged homes to make the home safe, sanitary and habitable.
 
•        FEMA Housing Portal: Survivors can search for nearby apartments or houses for rent by going online and using the FEMA Housing portal at http://asd.fema.gov/inter/hportal/home.htm. Landlords with vacancies may email their information to FEMA-Housing@fema.dhs.gov.
 
•        U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA): Low interest disaster loans from SBA are the primary source of recovery funds for businesses of all sizes, homeowners and renters.
 
•        At the state’s request, FEMA approved a direct housing mission on July 5, 2016, that uses Temporary Housing Units (THUs) for displaced survivors in two West Virginia counties: Greenbrier and Kanawha. THUs are part of a comprehensive temporary housing plan.