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Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management

Crisis and Emergency Management

December 2003 Volume 5 - Number 3

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FEMA Update...

FEMA distribution to Victims of Hurricane Isabel and the California Wildfires

By Laura Berger

The fall season has brought with it high profile disaster declarations on both coasts of the United States. Hurricane Isabel made its way up the east coast, effecting Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. On the West Coast, wildfires devastated communities in southern California. Between the two events, FEMA has provided over $420 million in aid.

Two months after Isabel, FEMA has distributed $381.85 million. Since September 18, more than 160,000 hurricane victims have applied for aid under FEMA's Individual Assistance Program. These funds have been distributed in the amount of $71.2 million in approved grants for housing requirements and $42.4 million for other disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other assistance programs. Funds to state and local governments for infrastructure repairs and costs associated with debris removal and emergency protective measures will top $104.6 million; and $48.3 million has been allocated for critical emergency needs and support for the long-term recovery in mission-assigned assistance. In addition, the U.S. Small Business Administration has approved more than $115.2 million in low-interest loans to cover residential and business losses not fully compensated by insurance.

The funding above has been distributed to the District of Columbia and six states in the amount of $14.87 million for Delaware, $4.68 million in the District of Columbia, $89.66 million in Maryland, $113.39 million in North Carolina, $1.17 million in Pennsylvania, $155.97 in Virginia, and $2.06 million in West Virginia.

Federal and state assistance for five fire-stricken counties, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura, exceeded $30 million in less than two weeks. The FEMA Helpline received more than 23,400 calls from people seeking guidance, information and referrals and more than 13,000 people have registered for aid. FEMA inspectors have completed 3,498 inspections of fire-damaged properties.

FEMA has provided assistance totaling $3 million for housing assistance, which helps with the cost of temporary housing and home repairs. $6.3 million have been allocated to help with needs such as medical, dental, funeral, transportation, and moving and storage expenses. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved $21.7 million in low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes.

For homeowners affected by these disasters, there may not be as much federal money available because of changes to the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. The program is tied to the total amount of assistance claims in a disaster. Before legislation passed this year, an additional 15 percent of total assistance claims could be used to elevate or buy out homes. That meant that for every dollar of recovery assistance, the state received an additional 15 cents for so-called hazard mitigation. This year, Congress changed the formula to seven and a half percent, essentially cutting the program in half.

In the case of Delaware, Lois Lopez, hazard mitigation officer for FEMA, expects to have about $638,000 available for Delaware mitigation projects resulting from two storm disasters - the Sept. 15 flash flood and Hurricane Isabel later that week. FEMA has also offered multiple scenarios and estimates for purchasing and demolishing at-risk Glenville, DE properties - from $4.3 million that covered only 33 homes deemed uninhabitable to $25.4 million for all 194 homes

In Virginia, FEMA Region III has agreed to support the rapid delivery of 7% Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Planning funds to localities, regions and the Commonwealth to continue the effort to make the Commonwealth and its localities compliant with the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 planning requirements.