The NLIHC-led Disaster Housing Recovery Coalition convenes and supports disaster-impacted communities to ensure that federal disaster recovery efforts reach all impacted households, including the lowest-income and most marginalized people who are often the hardest-hit by disasters and have the fewest resources to recover.
Learn more about the DHRC’s policy recommendations here.
General Resources & Events
NLIHC released a new factsheet: Title Barriers to Accessing FEMA Assistance
Hurricane Delta
Georgia
CNN reports remnants of Hurricane Delta caused at least two tornadoes in Georgia. One tornado struck Covington and damaged a homeless shelter, displacing 30 people. The tornado also damaged some residences in a mobile home park near the shelter.
Louisiana (EM-3547-LA)
President Trump approved an Emergency Declaration for Louisiana. Direct federal assistance has been made available for 41 parishes. Public Assistance Category B emergency protective measures, limited to direct federal assistance, will be provided for 23 parishes.
The Associated Press reports that while Hurricane Delta was a weaker storm than Hurricane Laura, it brought significantly more flooding. Hundreds of homes that were already damaged by Laura were impacted by the flooding from Delta.
Mississippi (EM-3548-MS)
FEMA announced federal disaster assistance has been made available to Mississippi to supplement the state’s response efforts in the areas affected by Hurricane Delta. Federal funding on a cost-sharing basis for emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance, is available for Hancock, Harrison, and Wilkinson counties. Public Assistance Category B emergency protective measures, limited to direct federal assistance, will be provided to 26 counties.
Hurricane Laura
Louisiana (DR-4559-LA)
Thousands of Hurricane Laura evacuees remain in New Orleans’ hotels. The American Red Cross reported providing more than 584,000 emergency overnight stays to Hurricane Laura survivors. The organization recently reported it was still providing housing to more than 12,000 evacuees.
The Washington Post reports thousands of displaced residents from the dual hurricanes that hit southwestern Louisiana are still waiting for FEMA assistance, often in seedy hotels far from home. About 7,968 people who evacuated for Hurricane Laura are occupying 3,457 hotel rooms in Louisiana and Texas.
Washington Post reports on Lake Charles’ efforts to survey the damage of compounding crises – Hurricanes Laura and Delta. More than 9,000 Louisianans remain in shelters, most of them displaced by Hurricane Laura. FEMA had previously promised to provide alternative housing for Lake Charles residents whose homes were destroyed in Laura by mid-October. FEMA reports this will still be the case, but FEMA Administrator Peter Gaynor failed to announce the city will receive full reimbursement for municipal costs incurred during the hurricanes.
Hurricane Sally
Florida (EM-3546-FL)
Jefferson County is now eligible for FEMA Public Assistance grants for recovery from Hurricane Sally. Eleven additional counties are now eligible for more categories of Public Assistance, including debris removal and permanent repairs.
After flooding from Hurricane Sally forced more than 30 families to move out of the Forest Creek Apartments in Pensacola, two more families were left homeless after a fire on October 10. The fire was sparked by a faulty electrical outlet, which one of the residents had asked the apartment’s management to fix several times. Residents have filed countless complaints against the management of the government-assisted complex concerning unsafe practices and living conditions.
Wildfires in the West
California (DR-4558-CA)
The FEMA Individuals and Housing Program is available to all eligible renters and homeowners in Butte, Lake, Monterey, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, and Yolo counties. Renters may also qualify for an award under FEMA’s Other Needs Assistance Program.
FEMA announced that additional disaster assistance is available to the state of California for the wildfire disaster declared on August 22. This assistance allows for additional funding at 100% federal cost-share for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance, for 30 continuous days. Previously, federal funding was available at 75% cost-share.
NPR reports the Glass Fire burning in Northern California has forced thousands of people from their homes, including the residents of a tiny home village developed to help people transition out of homelessness. Evacuees who experienced homelessness or who are homeless are facing further traumatic displacement in the wake of the wildfires.
Oregon (DR-4562-OR)
FEMA granted a state-requested direct housing assistance program to help provide temporary housing for Oregonians displaced by wildfires in Jackson, Linn, and Marion Counties. Approximately 4,100 homes were destroyed in the wildfires and thousands more suffered major damage. Direct Housing Assistance is available through FEMA’s Individual and Household Program (IHP).
The Ashland City Council unanimously approved Affordable Housing Trust Fund and Community Development Block Grant allocations to three local organizations focused on affordable and emergency housing. The economic impact of COVID-19 and disastrous wildfires have increased the already dire housing situations families faced.
Washington
NPR discusses the devastation wildfires have caused in rural Washington, including in the small farming town of Malden. The Trump administration has yet to issue a decision on Washington state’s request for a presidential disaster declaration.
Guidance