The FEMA FMA grant may pay 75%, 90% or 100% of the cost of elevation, and the home-owner will be responsible for any HOA requirements or non-eligible work. Properties will be reviewed and a benefit-cost analysis (BCA) done to determine property eligibility.
As explained earlier, if your house has been substantially damaged or is being substantially improved, your community's floodplain management ordinance or law will require that your lowest floor be elevated to or above the BFE.
If you qualify for the full $43,600 in FEMA housing aid, you will probably qualify for an additional $10,000 in aid from the California State Supplemental Grant Program. This aid can be used on rental expenses, housing repairs or rebuild, replacement of personal property, medical expenses, etc.
FEMA Aid Won't Rebuild Your Destroyed Home
For example, a couple with some insurance living in a larger home would get less aid than a family of five that is uninsured living in the same house. The payments max out at $36,000. And that's hardly enough to replace a burned home in Southern California.
In some cases, FEMA may help pay for costs your insurance didn't cover, up to FEMA's maximum award amounts. For Fiscal Year 2024, these maximum amounts are $42,500 for Housing Assistance and $42,500 for Other Needs Assistance.
Buyouts are an important way to reduce the risk of future disasters. Money is limited and in most cases, the amount of money set aside for mitigation cannot meet all the mitigation needs following a disaster. States prioritize mitigation programs with input from the communities.
Federal assistance from FEMA provides only the basic needs for a home to be habitable—including toilets, a roof, critical utilities, windows and doors. Examples of ineligible items may include non-essential cabinets and garage doors. A home inspection is required to calculate and verify your losses.
Your FEMA payment is calculated based on your insurance coverage and the damages to your property. FEMA releases the average claims paid for each year. You qualify for FEMA assistance if you're in an area where an official emergency has been declared.
However, FEMA assistance for personal property may be available if you are uninsured or underinsured. Appliances: Includes standard household appliances, such as a refrigerator, washing machine, etc. Clothing: Essential clothing needed due to loss, damage or contamination.
You will receive a letter explaining FEMA's eligibility decision within 10 days after the inspector's visit. Be sure to read it closely; it may explain additional steps needed to continue with the process.
FEMA can give money up to a maximum amount to eligible homeowners to repair or replace your home. For Fiscal Year 2024, the maximum amount is $42,500. Your eligible award amount is based on the damage observed during the FEMA inspection.
What is the 50% rule? The 50% Rule is a regulation of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) that prohibits improvements to a structure exceeding 50% of its market value unless the entire structure is brought into full compliance with current flood regulations.
Within 10 days after the inspector's visit, you will be sent a decision letter. If eligible for assistance, you will receive a check or an electronic funds transfer. A follow-up letter will explain how the money can be used. For an accessible video on FEMA home inspections, go to FEMA Accessible: Home Inspections.
FEMA may provide money and other services to help you recover from losses caused by a presidentially declared disaster, such as damage to your home, car, and other personal items. Note: FEMA does not provide assistance for small businesses impacted by a disaster.
By law, FEMA cannot provide financial assistance if you received funding for the same disaster-caused need from other sources. If you received funding from insurance, crowdfunding, local or state programs, or financial assistance from voluntary agencies, FEMA cannot cover those same expenses.
Reimbursement is at the typical cost for normal debris removal. For hazardous tree removal, FEMA will cover the cost of removal for trees with broken canopies or that are in imminent danger of falling, as long as they are six inches or larger in diameter at 4.5 feet above ground level.
In some cases, FEMA may help pay for costs your insurance didn't cover, up to FEMA's maximum award amounts. For Fiscal Year 2025, these maximum amounts are $43,600 for Housing Assistance and $43,600 for Other Needs Assistance.
If you spend the grant on anything other than the purpose for which it is intended, you may not be eligible for future disaster assistance. FEMA assistance is not a loan and does need to be paid back. In some cases, however, FEMA may ask that the money be returned.
Send your letter:
Appeal letters and supporting documentation also can be uploaded to your account on DisasterAssistance.gov, click “Check Status” on the home page and follow the instructions, or fax to 800-827-8112 Attn: FEMA. You may also visit your nearest Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) and submit your appeal.
FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, Flood Mitigation Assistance Program and Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program all include property elevations as an eligible project type. Interested property owners must meet all eligibility criteria and apply through their local community, which applies to the State.
Home Repairs
Federal assistance from FEMA provides only the basic needs for a home — including toilets, a roof, critical utilities, windows and doors. Examples of ineligible items may include non-essential cabinets and garage doors. A home inspection is required to calculate and verify the loss.
A “buyout” is a particular type of property acquisition, which is intended to reduce risk from future hazards by removing a structure from a floodway, floodplain, fire zone, or other Disaster Risk Reduction Area (DRRA).