Individuals and Households Program (IHP) provides money and services to people in the disaster area when losses are not covered by insurance and property has been damaged or destroyed. IHP is designed to help you with critical expenses that cannot be covered in other ways.
IHP will not cover all losses from damage to property (home, personal property, household goods) that resulted from the disaster. IHP is not intended to restore damaged property to its condition before the disaster. In some cases, IHP may only provide enough money, up to the program limits, to return an item to service. IHP does not cover business-related losses that resulted from the disaster. By law, IHP cannot provide money for losses that are covered by your insurance.
While some money is available through IHP, most disaster aid from the Federal government is in the form of loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA) that must be repaid. Applicants to IHP may be required to seek help from SBA first, before being considered for certain types of IHP help. Citizens do not have to submit an SBA loan application to be considered for FEMA rental assistance.
Up to $30,200 is available per home from FEMA. This is dependent on household income which is factored in on a case-by-case basis.
If damage is greater than the $30,200 cap, you will receive an application for a low-interest disaster recovery loan from the SBA. If you are sent this application packet from the SBA, you should complete it and submit the forms. No one is required to accept a loan, but submitting the application may open the door to additional FEMA grants.
Individuals who do not qualify for SBA loans may be referred to other disaster assistance programs, but they must complete the SBA loan application before they can be considered for other programmatic assistance.
Loans amounts are based on the actual cost of repairing or rebuilding a flood-damaged home and personal property, minus any insurance reimbursements for the same loss. Current loan limits are as follows:
Homeowners - Up to $200,000 to repair or rebuild a primary residence to its condition before the disaster.
Homeowners and renters - Up to $40,000 to repair/replace personal property such as clothing, furniture and automobiles.
If your property is located IN the floodplain, usually FEMA will only pay for repairs above the basement. FEMA may cover your furnace and water heater in basement.
If your property is located OUT of any mapped flood hazard areas and you have not been required to have flood insurance for some reason, you can get aid.
Step 1: Register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA):
You will receive a nine-digit registration number that can be used for reference when corresponding with FEMA.
Have a pen and paper and the following information ready:
Step 2: Receive a property inspection.
Within a few days after registering, eligible applicants will be telephoned to make an appointment to have their damaged property inspected. The inspectors, who are FEMA contractors and carry identification badges, visit to make a record of damage. They do not make a determination regarding assistance. There is no cost for the inspection.
If your property has been damaged, take immediate corrective action. If your roof is leaking, put a roof on your building; if your carpets are wet, get them dried. FEMA recommends that all homeowners and renters:
An additional resource for those whose homes have been damaged is their local Homeownership Centers (HOC), listed below. These Centers make low or deferred interest loans for home repairs and can help pay for damages that are not covered by insurance, FEMA or SBA disaster loans.
Central Vermont Community Land Trust HOC - 802-476-4493
Windham and Windsor Housing Trust HOC - 802-246-2109
FEMA Appeals - On 9/21/11, FEMA released a memo regarding the process towns and citizens can use to appeal their determination for aid if they are not satisfied with it.
FEMA IA information for Renters
FEMA Individual Assistance Guide
Efficiency Vermont Irene Relief Aid and Resources - Efficiency Vermont is offering technical assistance on how to re-insulate and retrofit your damaged home in an energy efficient manner. This includes special rebates for energy efficient appliances.
Hiring Contractors - Events such as Tropical Storm Irene can bring out individuals who take advantage of others during a time of crisis. Communities and residents are advised to be cautious when hiring contractors. The following News Brief offers suggestions on how communities and residents can protect themselves from fraudulent contractors.
Associated General Contractors of Vermont (AGC/VT) - members are commercial contractors that can assist in meeting the municipal and businesses needs quickly and responsibly. The AGC/VT contact is Cathy Voyer: 802-223-2374, cathy@agcvt.org.