General Updates
- Plagiarized Contract. Senators Claire McCakill (D-MO), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), and Gary Peters (D-MI) found that a company plagiarized their contract proposal with FEMA. FEMA ended their $156 million contract with Tribute Contracting, LLC after it failed to deliver sufficient emergency meals. FEMA has had several failed contracts during their response in Puerto Rico.
- Mayor Exchange. The Open Society Foundations launched a new initiative to pair mayors with experience dealing with disaster to those in Puerto Rico. About 40 mayors have agreed to participate in the Mayor Exchange with trips and visits beginning next week.
CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES
FEMA
October Wildfires
By the Numbers: (as of 2/28)
- 4,454 Individual Assistance (IA) applications approved*
- $15,363,757 Individual & Household Program (IHP) approved*
- $9,372,659 Housing Assistance (HA) approved*
- $5,991,099 Other Needs Assistance (ONA) approved*
- $210,474,340 Total Public Assistance Grants (PA) obligated**
- $208,830,256 Emergency Work (Categories A-B) obligated**
- $203,708 Permanent Work (Categories C-G) 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
December Wildfires, Flooding, Mudflows, and Debris Flows
By the Numbers: (as of 2/28)
- 619 Individual Assistance (IA) applications approved*
- $3,700,299 Individual & Household Program (IHP) approved*
- $3,214,547 Housing Assistance (HA) approved*
- $485,752 Other Needs Assistance (ONA) approved*
*Assistance dollars approved but not necessarily disbursed.
Local Perspectives
- Creating New Housing. Following the devastating wildfires that wiped out thousands of homes, officials in northern California are searching for creative solutions to meet the current need. Estimates are as ambitious as 30,000 units in the next five years. Board of Supervisors Chairman James Gore justified the goal, saying, “We are eroding the character of our county by not allowing people who work here to live here and be a part of the community.”
HURRICANE MARIA
FEMA
Puerto Rico
By the Numbers: (as of 2/28)
- 435,786 Individual Assistance (IA) applications approved*
- $1,048,364,525 Individual & Household Program (IHP) approved*
- $572,449,121 Housing Assistance (HA) approved*
- $475,915,405 Other Needs Assistance (ONA) approved*
- $558,422,486 Total Public Assistance Grants (PA) obligated**
- $540,422,486 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.
- Child Care Assistance. A FEMA factsheet on child care assistance options states that individuals affected by Hurricanes Irma and Maria are eligible for the Child Care Assistance program. This program awards a one-time payment for up to 8 weeks of child care plus other eligible expenses. Survivors must submit documentation to be considered for the program.
U.S. Virgin Islands
By the Numbers: (as of 2/28)
- 10,627 Individual Assistance (IA) applications approved*
- $35,523,114 Individual & Household Program (IHP) approved*
- $24,103,157 Housing Assistance (HA) approved*
- $11,419,957 Other Needs Assistance (ONA) approved*
- $256,550,609 Total Public Assistance Grants (PA) obligated**
- $248,018,057 Emergency Work (Categories A-B) obligated**
- $1,119,004 Permanent Work (Categories C-G) 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 IRMA
FEMA
Florida
By the Numbers: (as of 2/28)
- 772,253 Individual Assistance (IA) applications approved*
- $990,171,900 Individual & Household Program (IHP) approved*
- $684,926,722 Housing Assistance (HA) approved*
- $305,245,177 Other Needs Assistance (ONA) approved*
- $17,939,141 Total Public Assistance Grants (PA) obligated**
- $5,370,350 Emergency Work (Categories A-B) obligated**
- $199,494 Permanent Work (Categories C-G) 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
Georgia
By the Numbers: (as of 2/28)
- 9,359 Individual Assistance (IA) applications approved*
- $13,365,506 Individual & Household Program (IHP) approved*
- $9,873,730 Housing Assistance (HA) approved*
- $3,491,776 Other Needs Assistance (ONA) approved*
- $4,738,687 Total Public Assistance Grants (PA) obligated**
- $2,611,490 Emergency Work (Categories A-B) obligated**
- $1,574,001 Permanent Work (Categories C-G) 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 2/28)
- 1,360 Individual Assistance (IA) applications approved*
- $4,244,096 Individual & Household Program (IHP) approved*
- $2,749,342 Housing Assistance (HA) approved*
- $1,494,753 Other Needs Assistance (ONA) approved*
- $4,119,274 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 2/28)
- 8,351 Individual Assistance (IA) applications approved*
- $33,406,751 Individual & Household Program (IHP) approved*
- $23,786,129 Housing Assistance (HA) approved*
- $9,620,623 Other Needs Assistance (ONA) approved*
- $4,913,052 Total Public Assistance Grants (PA) obligated**
- $4,871,171 Emergency Work (Categories A-B) obligated**
- $19,335 Permanent Work (Categories C-G) 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
- Florida Keys Affordable Housing Crisis. In an interview with a local news outlet, Monroe County Commissioner Heather Carruthers spoke to the affordable housing crisis in the Florida Keys following Hurricane Irma. While affordable housing has always been an issue in the area, the hurricane destroyed thousands of homes, many of which were affordable units. Ms. Carruthers stated that for unincorporated Monroe County, 700 of 1,970 building permits are earmarked for affordable housing, which would only be meeting a third of the need.
HURRICANE HARVEY
FEMA
Texas
By the Numbers: (as of 2/28)
- 370,861 Individual Assistance (IA) applications approved*
- $1,563,243,791 Individual & Household Program (IHP) approved*
- $1,184,124,706 Housing Assistance (HA) approved*
- $379,119,085 Other Needs Assistance (ONA) approved*
- $625,355,355 Total Public Assistance Grants (PA) obligated**
- $561,658,430 Emergency Work (Categories A-B) obligated**
- $758,800 Permanent Work (Categories C-G) 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
The Texas Strategy. As the Texas government struggles to implement a new method of disaster housing recovery, residents are being left behind. Governor Abbott’s decision to have the General Land Office (GLO) run short-term housing programs has not gone as smoothly as hoped. The GLO got a late start – Mr. Abbott didn’t alert the agency of the plan until 19 days after the storm – and tens of thousands of Texans had to rely on neighbors and local organizations for some sort of assistance. Local officials are willing to take the lead on recovery but lack the proper resources and data to do so. The Texas Tribune reports on these issues and