Oxford County
Emergency Management Agency

PO Box 179, 26 Western Avenue
South Paris ME 04281
Ph 207-743-6336 FAX 207-743-7346 oxctyema@megalink.net
Office hours: Monday through Friday 8am-4pm

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FEMA Individual Assistance Process

Individual & Households Program Housing Assistance (IHP)
Individuals and Households Program-Other Needs Assistance (ONA)
Information critical to the Individual Assistance Program
What is needed in order to get an Individual Assistance Declaration?

Individual Assistance is 100 % Federally Funded for applicants that were residing in their primary residence. This is for applicants that were displaced pre-disaster or post disaster due to safety, sanitary or functional.
The Individual Housing Program maximum financial award changes each year.

Individual and Households Program Housing Assistance (IHP)

Temporary Housing

∙ Money is provided for rental property or temporary lodging until rental property is available.
∙ Money is provided in the form of check or electronic funds transfer.
∙ Non-cash assistance may be available in the form of mobile home or travel trailer accommodations.
Repair
∙ Money is available for primary homeowners to repair damage that is not covered by insurance. This money will provide the applicant funds for:
∙ Repair home back to a safe, sanitary and functional living conditions.
∙ If the home is located in a flood hazard area, the homeowner must comply with flood insurance programs.
∙ Homeowners may apply for low interest US Small Business Administration loans.

Replacement

∙ Money to replace/rebuild a damaged home.
∙ If the home is located in a flood hazard area, the homeowner must comply with flood insurance programs.

Repair and Replacement

∙ Repair and replacement funds may be available for the following:
∙ Structural parts (foundation, outside walls, roofs)
∙ Windows, doors, floors, walls, and ceilings.
∙ Septic/Sewage systems
∙ Wells/other water systems
∙ Heating, ventilating and air conditioners
∙ Utilities
∙ Entrance & Exit ways

Disaster legal services

∙ Provides legal services to low income victims for:
∙ Help with insurance claims
∙ Preparing new /replacement legal documents
∙ Help with contracts for services
∙ Rental issues between landlords/tenants

Disaster Unemployment Assistance

∙ The disaster unemployment assistance program provides unemployment benefits and re-employment services to individuals unemployed because of disaster.

Crisis Counseling Assistance

∙ Provides crisis counseling services to victims of major disasters to help relieve grieving, stress or mental health problems.

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Individuals and Households Program-Other Needs Assistance (ONA)

ONA is a cost-share program, 75% federally funded and 25% state funded for applicants that were residing in their primary residence. ONA is for other necessary expenses and serious needs as a result of the disaster.

Personal Property

∙ Money to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property not covered by insurance.
∙ Help with the cost of necessary expenses and serious needs.
∙ Repair and replacement of personal property may include:
∙ Clothing, Household items, Specialized tools, necessary educational materials and clean-up items (wet/dry vacuum, air purifier, dehumidifier)

Transportation

∙ Money for repair or replacement of an individual’s primary means of transportation that is no longer usable because of disaster-related damage or for increased cost of using public transportation.

Other Expenses

∙ Money approved by FEMA for specific disaster related costs. These costs may include:
∙ Fuel (ex. Chainsaw)
∙ Moving and storage expenses.
∙ Other necessary expenses
∙ Cost of National Flood Insurance Program policy

Medical & Dental

∙ Money for an individual’s medical/dental treatment costs or purchase of medical equipment required because of injuries received because of the disaster.

Funeral & Burial Costs

∙ Money for the individual to pay for funeral services, burial and cremation and other funeral expenses related to a death caused by the disaster.

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Information critical to the Individual Assistance Program

All individuals must register with FEMA at 1-800-621-3362 or online at www.fema.gov. All applicants must register and receive a FIPS number. Without a FIPS number, the individual is not eligible for FEMA funds.

All individuals must complete a SBA loan application to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses; EVEN if they are not intending to apply for a SBA loan.
In most Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) and Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers (MDRC) individuals will have access to register with FEMA.

Individual assistance is only available to individuals that reside in the county that has been officially declared by the President. Contiguous counties do not come into play with Individual Assistance.

Applicants must be able to provide FEMA the following information during the registration process:

∙ Social Security number
∙ Official First and Last name-include middle initials and suffixes
∙ Telephone number where the individual can be reached
∙ Address of the damaged property
∙ Current address
∙ Brief description of disaster-related damages and losses
∙ Insurance information
∙ Bank account information

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What is needed in order to get an Individual Assistance Declaration?

In order to get an IA declaration, a Preliminary Damage Assessment is needed to evaluate the category of damage in specific areas.

Each Individual Assessment team should include representation from:

∙ FEMA
∙ SBA
∙ ARC
∙ STATE and/or Local

This will ensure that the teams are evaluating all areas for personal damage, impact and size of damaged area. The team will be evaluating: physical damage to property, economics of the area, communities (what organizations are helping) and what type of disaster. In many cases, entry into the home will be required to evaluate the true damage to the property.

The local participation is the most important, they know where the damage is, they know the basements that were pumped by the local fire dept., they know areas that typically receive damage and they have usually developed trust with the locals.

In order for the teams to be effective and efficient, it is important that each county compile a list of individuals that will need evaluations as part of the PDA. The county should work closely with the municipalities and/or establish a phone-bank to collect the following information:

∙ Community/Town
∙ Name
∙ Street Address of damage
∙ Telephone Number
∙ Alternate Number
∙ Water damage
∙ Furniture Damage
∙ Hot water tank damage
∙ Washer/Dryer damage
∙ Damaged ROF
∙ Trees
∙ Water Removed-Sump Pump/Fire Dept.
∙ Electric Box damaged
∙ Refrigerator/Freezer damage
∙ Driveway
∙ Private Road damage
∙ Special Needs-Detailed
∙ Any other important factors

**Primary or Secondary Residence**

This information will be used to coordinate on the group evaluations when Individual Assistance declaration has been made. This will also ensure the ability to follow up with individuals in the event no IA declaration is made.

The Individual Assistance Timeline is  constrained and requires a collaborative effort on County, State and FEMA officials. In most cases, DRCs will be setup within 24-48 hours of IA declaration. County and State officials should already be strategizing how IA will be implemented within the county that IA has been requested.

The requirements of each agency are as follows, but not limited to:

FEMA will:

∙ Locate and establish a JFO
∙ Determine availability of Mobile DRC
∙ Identify teams to assist at DRC
∙ Identify logistical support for infrastructure within DRC
∙ Coordinate press releases with County EMA/State on DRC and MDRC locations.
∙ Determine marketing materials needed at each site

County EMA will:

∙ Identify locations for DRC and MDRC
∙ DRCs will need to be provided the following capabilities:
    o Phone lines, workstations, handicap accessibility, restrooms, internet access, proper parking capacity, extended hours availability (9am-9pm, 7 days/week), and space should be free.
∙ Identify local staff available to assist at DRC
∙ Identify local news outlets for press releases in order to notify all local residents
∙ Provide information to town offices.

State will:

∙ Assist county EMA in identifying locations for DRC/MDRC
∙ Identify staff to assist in DRC/MDRC
∙ Review press releases for appropriate information
∙ Determine marketing materials needed at each site
∙ Coordinate Disaster Assistance Teams that need to be available at DRC/MDRCs.

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Send mail to oxctyema@megalink.net with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2007 Oxford County Emergency Management Agency
Last modified: 04/29/08