FEMAFEMA Emergency Hotels
You have to already be registered with FEMA and have a FEMA registration number. https://www.femaemergencyhotels.com/ To apply for FEMA Assistance: Go to www.DisasterAssistance.gov Download the FEMA App Call 1-800-621-FEMA IMPORTANT: Make sure you mention #HurricaneHelene in your application. Applications for Hurricane Debby will not be accepted. FEMA Disaster Assistance Florida homeowners and renters in counties who had uninsured damage or losses caused by Hurricane Helene may be eligible for FEMA disaster assistance in the following counties: Charlotte, Citrus, Dixie, Franklin, Hernando, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Levy, Madison, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, Taylor, and Wakulla. FEMA Disaster Assistance www.DisasterAssistance.gov 1-800-621-3362 When you apply, have the following information on hand:
Types of FEMA Assistance Available: FEMA is offering a wide variety of help to people affected by the recent hurricanes. Every homeowner and renter who suffered damage is encouraged to apply. Money provided by FEMA does not have to be repaid and may include: Serious Needs Assistance: Money for lifesaving and life-sustaining items, including water, food, first aid, prescriptions, infant formula, breastfeeding supplies, diapers, consumable medical supplies, durable medical equipment, personal hygiene items and fuel for transportation. Displacement Assistance: Money to help with housing needs if you cannot return to your home because of the disaster. The money can be used to stay in a hotel, with family and friends or other options while you look for a rental unit. Home Repair or Replacement: Money to help you repair or replace your home damaged by the disaster. The money can also help with pre-existing damage to parts of your home where the disaster caused further damage. Rental Assistance: Money you can use to rent housing if you are displaced from your home because of the disaster. Personal Property: Money to help you repair or replace appliances, room furnishings, and a personal or family computer damaged by the disaster. This can also include money for books, uniforms, tools, medical equipment and other items required for school or work, including self-employment. Child Care: Money to help you pay for increased or child care expenses caused by the disaster. Transportation: Money to help you repair or replace a vehicle damaged by the disaster when you don’t have another vehicle you can use. Moving and Storage Expenses: Money to help you move and store personal property from your home to prevent additional damage. Please have the following information available when you apply: NOTE: Government disaster assistance only covers basic needs and usually will not compensate you for your entire loss. If you have insurance, the government may help pay for basic needs not covered under your insurance policy. FEMA will not pay for your insurance deductible. FEMA ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUAL HOUSEHOLDS: FEMA also may determine that you qualify for the Individuals and Households Program (IHP) and the Other Needs Assistance (ONA) program. The IHP and ONA programs provide financial help or direct services to those who have necessary expenses and serious needs if they are unable to meet the needs through other means such as insurance or loans. With respect to any single emergency or major disaster, the maximum grant amount is $42,500 for housing assistance and $42,500 for other needs assistance (the amount is adjusted each year on October 1st). Please Note: Though the maximum available grant in each category is up to $42,500, it would only be available if insurance and loan options were first exhausted. Few applicants qualify for the full amount. Household Composition: People living together in one residence before the disaster are expected to continue to live together after the disaster. Generally, assistance is provided to the pre-disaster household as a unit. If the assistance provided to the household is not shared with you, or if the new residence is too small or causes you undue hardship, you may request assistance to separate from your pre-disaster household. Type of Assistance: Generally, no more than one type of IHP assistance may be provided to the household. Only FEMA - in conjunction with the State of Florida - has the authority to determine which type of assistance is most appropriate for the household and the period of assistance to be covered. Proper Use of Assistance: All financial assistance provided by FEMA should be used as specified in writing: to rent another place to live, to make the home repairs identified by FEMA, to prevent eviction or foreclosure, or to replace or repair personal property. Failure to use the money as specified may make you ineligible for additional assistance. All money provided by FEMA is tax-free. Documentation: It is your responsibility to provide all documentation necessary for FEMA to evaluate your eligibility. You may need to provide proof of occupancy, ownership, income loss, and/or information concerning your housing situation prior to the disaster. You should keep all receipts and records for any housing expenses incurred as a result of the disaster. This includes receipts for repair supplies, labor, and rent payments. Insurance: If you have insurance, any assistance provided by FEMA should be considered an advance and must be repaid to FEMA when you receive your insurance settlement payment. If your settlement is less than FEMA's estimated cost to make your home habitable, you may qualify for funds to supplement your insurance settlement, but only for repairs relating to the home's habitability. FEMA does not provide replacement or assistance with non-essential items. FAQs REGARDING FEMA ASSISTANCE Do I have to register with FEMA to get help? Yes, with very few exceptions, if you want federal assistance, you must register with FEMA. What happens after I register? You will receive a call from a FEMA housing inspector. On site inspections are an important early step in helping to speed aid to homeowners and renters suffering flood damage. All inspectors carry photo identification and will have the FEMA registration number assigned to the person whose home is being inspected. Only an official FEMA inspector will have the number that was provided during registration. The FEMA inspection is free so beware of individuals attempting to charge for inspections or remodeling contractors claiming to be FEMA approved. FEMA does not endorse construction firms. When a FEMA inspector calls for an appointment, registrants should provide a clear, accurate description of the damaged property and current contact information. You do not have to wait for the inspector to arrive before beginning repairs. Photos, contractor estimates, and receipts can be provided to FEMA inspectors to document the extent of the damage. The inspection generally takes 30 - 40 minutes. The inspector enters damage-related information into a handheld computer and sends data electronically to FEMA. The inspector does not determine whether a registrant is eligible for assistance or the amount of assistance an individual may receive. You may also receive a call from a representative of the SBA. An SBA loan application is included in the FEMA registration materials and is a key part of the registration process, but you are not required to take out an SBA loan. However, if you think you may need a loan, it is important to apply because it may open other opportunities for federal assistance. No appointment is necessary to meet with an SBA Customer Service Representative at a Disaster Recovery Center or Business Recovery Center. There is no cost to apply for an SBA disaster loan and you are not obligated to accept a loan that SBA approves. FEMA may also direct you to other federal organizations, such as the Department of Housing and Urban Development, on a case by-case basis. Appeal Rights: If you disagree with FEMA's determination of eligibility or the form of assistance provided, you have the right to appeal within 60 days of the date of your notification letter. Call 1-800-621-3362 immediately to alert FEMA of your appeal. Send your appeal letter to: Appeals Officer, FEMA Individuals & Households Program, National Processing Service Center, P.O. Box 10055, Hyattsville, MD 20782-7055. BEWARE OF FRAUD & SCAMS We've seen Floridians pull together every time we're faced with a difficult situation. Unfortunately, some unscrupulous individuals hoping to profit from people's misfortune may attempt to pose as government officials and scam you for your personal information. FEMA recommends the following precautions:
TAX RELIEF & IRS ASSISTANCE: The Internal Revenue Service may provide tax relief to individual and business taxpayers impacted by disasters and living in the areas designated by FEMA under the Federal Disaster Declaration. Tax relief is part of a coordinated federal response to the damage caused by the disasters and is based on local damage assessments by FEMA. The declaration permits the IRS to postpone certain deadlines for taxpayers who reside or have a business in the disaster area. For instance, certain deadlines are extended to allow additional time to file. This includes taxpayers who had a valid extension to file their return that was due to run out. It can also include the quarterly estimated income tax payments and the quarterly payroll and excise tax returns normally extended. It also includes tax-exempt organizations that operate on a calendar-year basis and had an automatic extension due to run out extended. In addition, penalties on payroll and excise tax deposits due can be extended. If an affected taxpayer receives a penalty notice from the IRS, the taxpayer should call the telephone number on the notice to have the IRS abate any interest and any late filing or late payment penalties that would otherwise apply. Penalties or interest will be abated only for taxpayers who have an original or extended filing, payment, or deposit due date, including an extended filing or payment due date, that falls within the postponement period. The IRS automatically identifies taxpayers located in the covered disaster area and applies automatic for filing and payment relief, but affected taxpayers who reside or have a business located outside the covered disaster area must call the IRS disaster hotline at 1-866-562-5227 to request this tax relief. |
SBASBA Disaster Assistance Loans
www.SBA.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance 1-800-659-2955 SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION DISASTER LOANS Whether you rent or own your own home, business, or farm located in a declared disaster area, you may be eligible for financial assistance from the Small Business Administration. Please note that the filing deadline for SBA might be different than the FEMA deadline. Make sure you pay attention to the deadlines.
FAQs About SBA Disaster Loans What is the difference between FEMA and the SBA?
What Types of Disaster Loans are Available?
How do I begin the loan application process? Homeowners and Renters: Submit a completed loan application and a signed and dated IRS form 4506-C permitting the IRS to provide SBA with your tax return information. Businesses in addition to the application and the IRS Form 4506-C will also need current information such as a personal financial statement, a schedule of liabilities, and a copy of your most recently filed Federal income tax return. Additional information may be required depending on individual circumstances. I have registered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and was referred to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). I don't have a small business, so why do I need to apply to SBA? For disaster damage to private property that is not fully covered by insurance, the basic form of Federal disaster assistance is an SBA disaster loan. SBA is the primary source of Federal money for long-term disaster recovery. Non-farm businesses (including rental properties) of all sizes as well as homeowners, and renters, whose property was damaged as a result of a declared disaster, should apply for a low-interest SBA disaster loan. I have already received money from FEMA. Does that mean I still need to apply to SBA for a disaster loan? If your home was destroyed or was not habitable, you may have received money to pay for temporary accommodations elsewhere. If your home was not livable, you may have received money to pay for essential repairs so you could stay there. In both cases, FEMA funds were not intended to pay for all the costs of repairing your damaged home, or for replacing your personal property. SBA disaster loans are available to cover the amount of your repair costs that have not already been fully compensated. I don't think I can afford a loan. Why should I apply? If you are a homeowner or renter and SBA determines you cannot afford a loan, SBA will automatically refer you to FEMA's Other Needs Assistance (ONA) program. The FEMA program is a safety net available only to individuals and families and is not available to businesses. It is intended to help meet essential needs not met by any other form of assistance, including SBA disaster loans. Please note that if you were referred to SBA for assistance and do not complete the SBA loan application you cannot be referred to FEMA even if SBA were to determine you cannot qualify for a loan. Should I wait for my insurance settlement before I file my loan application? No. Do not miss the filing deadline by waiting for an insurance settlement. SBA can approve a loan for the total eligible losses within the administrative guidelines and later adjust the loan eligibility or balance if insurance funds are received. How much can I borrow? The amount SBA will lend depends on the cost of repairing or replacing your business and business contents or home and personal property, minus any insurance settlements or grants. SBA may send an inspector to estimate the cost of your damage once you have submitted your loan application. Renters and homeowners alike may borrow up to $40,000 to repair or replace personal property. Homeowners may apply for up to $200,000 to repair or replace their disaster-damaged residence. Businesses of all sizes may apply for a Physical Disaster Loan and small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, and private non profit organizations may be eligible for economic injury. These loans could not exceed $2 million to repair or replace damaged property or economic injury. SBA can also lend additional funds up to 20 percent of the verified losses to help make improvements to the property (both real and contents) that protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future (mitigation). What is the interest rate and how long do I have to pay off this loan? The interest rate on these loans is determined by law. SBA assigns an interest rate to a loan based on the resources available to an applicant. The lower interest rate will not exceed 4 percent and the interest rate associated with the current market rate will not exceed 8 percent. The rates are fixed for the term of the loan. Is collateral required for these loans? Loans that exceed $25,000 must be secured to the extent possible. SBA will not decline a loan if you don't have enough collateral but will ask for whatever collateral is available which may include real estate owned by a business' principals. We may also take a lien on the damaged residential property. What Restrictions are there on Loan Eligibility? Uninsured Losses: Only uninsured or otherwise uncompensated disaster losses are eligible. Any insurance proceeds which are required to be applied against outstanding mortgages are not available to fund disaster repairs and do not reduce loan eligibility. However, any insurance proceeds voluntarily applied to any outstanding mortgages reduce loan eligibility. Ineligible Property: Secondary homes, personal pleasure boats, recreational vehicles, and similar property are not eligible unless used for business purposes. Property such as antiques and collections are eligible only to the extent of their functional value. Noncompliance: Applicants who have not complied with the terms of previous SBA loans are not eligible. This includes borrowers who did not maintain the flood and/or hazard insurance on previous SBA or federally insured loans. Is There Help Available for Refinancing? SBA can refinance all or part of prior mortgages that are evidenced by a recorded lien when the applicant (1) does not have credit available elsewhere, (2) has suffered substantial uncompensated disaster damage, which is defined as 40 percent or more of the value of the property, and (3) intends to repair the damage. Homes: Homeowners may be eligible for the refinancing of existing liens or mortgages on homes, in some cases up to the amount of the loan for real estate repair or replacement. Businesses: Business owners may be eligible for the refinancing of existing mortgages or liens on real estate, machinery, and equipment, in some cases up to the amount of the loan for the repair or replacement of real estate, machinery, and equipment. What if I Decide to Relocate? You may use your SBA disaster loan to relocate. The amount of the relocation loan depends on whether you relocate voluntarily or involuntarily. If you are interested in relocation, an SBA representative can provide you with more details on your specific situation. State Resources for Businesses
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