Congress
- The conference committee created to resolve differences between the House and Senate bills met today. The DHRC sent a letter to the conference committee and all other congressional offices outlining the DHRC’s concerns about the possible impact on disaster recovery. The committee is expected to finish their work this week, with votes in the House and Senate next week.
- The next disaster supplemental could be included as part of a larger legislative package at the end of the year or early January. The DHRC is continuing to urge the appropriations committees to include the DRHC’s top priorities. Read the DHRC’s top priorities for the next supplemental here.
CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES
FEMA
By the Numbers: (as of 12/13)
- 4,259 Individual Assistance (IA) applications approved*
- $13,495,432 Individual & Household Program (IHP) approved*
- $8,385,942 Housing Assistance (HA) approved*
- $5,109,490 Other Needs Assistance (ONA) approved*
*Assistance dollars approved but not necessarily disbursed.
Local Perspective
- State Recovery Website. The State of California and the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services created a website with resources for survivors and local governments to aid in the recovery process.
- SoCal Fires. The wildfires in Southern California have now destroyed more than 1,000 structures with at least 95,000 evacuees.
HURRICANE MARIA
FEMA
Puerto Rico
By the Numbers: (as of 12/13)
- 326,751 Individual Assistance (IA) applications approved*
- $555,823,051 Individual & Household Program (IHP) approved*
- $285,957,883 Housing Assistance (HA) approved*
- $269,865,168 Other Needs Assistance (ONA) approved*
- $453,389,436 Total Public Assistance Grants (PA) obligated, all for emergency work (Categories A-B)**
*Assistance dollars approved but not necessarily disbursed.
**Funds made available to the state via electronic transfer following FEMA’s final review and approval of Public Assistance projects.
- Direct Lease. Property owners have enrolled over 3,000 housing units in FEMA’s Direct Lease program, which provides temporary rental assistance to survivors.
U.S. Virgin Islands
By the Numbers: (as of 12/13)
- 7,256 Individual Assistance (IA) applications approved*
- $18,626,750 Individual & Household Program (IHP) approved*
- $15,099,016 Housing Assistance (HA) approved*
- $3,527,734 Other Needs Assistance (ONA) approved*
- $113,017,738 Total Public Assistance Grants (PA) obligated, all for emergency work (Categories A-B)**
*Assistance dollars approved but not necessarily disbursed.
**Funds made available to the state via electronic transfer following FEMA’s final review and approval of Public Assistance projects.
HURRICANE IRMA
FEMA
Florida
By the Numbers: (as of 12/13)
- 757,518 Individual Assistance (IA) applications approved*
- $952,756,081 Individual & Household Program (IHP) approved*
- $655,750,078 Housing Assistance (HA) approved*
- $297,006,004 Other Needs Assistance (ONA) approved*
- $479,226 Total Public Assistance Grants (PA) obligated, all for emergency work (Categories A-B)**
*Assistance dollars approved but not necessarily disbursed.
**Funds made available to the state via electronic transfer following FEMA’s final review and approval of Public Assistance projects
- Long-Term Housing Plan. FEMA requires survivors who have been placed in a FEMA-provided housing unit to provide evidence of progress toward long-term housing plans. Evidence can include invoices for repairs and other options determined by an individual FEMA caseworker. FEMA re-evaluates eligibility every 30 days.
Georgia
By the Numbers: (as of 12/13)
- 9,105 Individual Assistance (IA) applications approved*
- $12,641,900 Individual & Household Program (IHP) approved*
- $9,275,897 Housing Assistance (HA) approved*
- $3,336,002 Other Needs Assistance (ONA) approved*
- $585,260 Total Public Assistance Grants (PA) obligated**
- $34,259 Emergency Work (Categories A-B) obligated**
*Assistance dollars approved but not necessarily disbursed.
**Funds made available to the state via electronic transfer following FEMA’s final review and approval of Public Assistance projects.
Puerto Rico
By the Numbers: (as of 12/13)
- 1,172 Individual Assistance (IA) applications approved*
- $2,564,506 Individual & Household Program (IHP) approved*
- $1,309,402 Housing Assistance (HA) approved*
- $1,255,104 Other Needs Assistance (ONA) approved*
- $2,871,448 Total Public Assistance Grants (PA) obligated, all for emergency work (Categories A-B)**
*Assistance dollars approved but not necessarily disbursed.
**Funds made available to the state via electronic transfer following FEMA’s final review and approval of Public Assistance projects.
U.S. Virgin Islands
By the Numbers: (as of 12/13)
- 6,532 Individual Assistance (IA) applications approved*
- $18,208,379 Individual & Household Program (IHP) approved*
- $14,989,457 Housing Assistance (HA) approved*
- $3,218,922 Other Needs Assistance (ONA) approved*
- $4,173,996 Total Public Assistance Grants (PA) obligated**
- $4,151,451 Emergency Work (Categories A-B) obligated**
*Assistance dollars approved but not necessarily disbursed.
**Funds made available to the state via electronic transfer following FEMA’s final review and approval of Public Assistance projects.
HURRICANE HARVEY
FEMA
Texas
By the Numbers: (as of 12/13)
- 359,766 Individual Assistance (IA) applications approved*
- $1,475,922,847 Individual & Household Program (IHP) approved*
- $1,134,347,764 Housing Assistance (HA) approved*
- $341,575,084 Other Needs Assistance (ONA) approved*
- $502,344,847 Total Public Assistance Grants (PA) obligated**
- $439,406,722 Emergency Work (Categories A-B) obligated**
*Assistance dollars approved but not necessarily disbursed.
**Funds made available to the state via electronic transfer following FEMA’s final review and approval of Public Assistance projects.
Local Perspectives
- Houston Demands DHAP. Houston residents gathered outside of City Hall demanding the adoption of the disaster housing assistance program (DHAP). Individuals shared stories of being forced to live in unsafe housing conditions without alternative options that could be provided through programs like DHAP. They also distributed Christmas cards during a city council meeting that read, “All I want for Christmas is safe, affordable housing.”
- Potential Foreclosures. Homeowners are struggling to pay their mortgages following Hurricane Harvey. Some are choosing to sell just to get enough money to pay mounting bills. Certain officials are predicting an increase in foreclosures.