Detroit – FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program (IHP) has a new category of funds for qualified individuals and families with homes damaged by the June 25 and 26 flooding. The funds encourage homeowners to take steps now to protect their property, reducing the likelihood of future disaster damage to their homes.
“Time and time again FEMA has seen tangible results with programs that help reduce risk and protect property from future disasters,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Scott Burgess, who oversees FEMA’s response and recovery efforts in southeast Michigan. “That’s why our agency has invested in this new kind of home repair assistance for homeowners and families. The program will help protect their homes against future disasters.”
Homeowners who apply for disaster assistance and are eligible for IHP assistance may receive additional funds from FEMA for specific mitigation measures. These funds will be provided within the award amount for homeowners determined eligible for Home Repair Assistance from FEMA. Authority for this assistance comes from the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Act.
The funds can be used for the following types of mitigation measures:
- Repair a roof to withstand higher winds and to help prevent water infiltration
- Elevate a water heater or a furnace to avoid future flood damage
- Move or elevate an electrical panel to avoid future flood damage
The funds are available for:
- owner-occupied, primary residences damaged by the June 25-26 flooding.
- use for specific damaged items that were present and functional in the home prior to the disaster and were then damaged by the disaster.
As of Oct. 19, FEMA has approved more than $10.4 million in funding under this program to 35,530 qualified applicants.
How the Program Works
After they apply for disaster assistance, applicants will be informed if they qualify for disaster assistance and if that assistance includes funds for home-mitigation measures. The amount of assistance is subject to the Stafford Act limit for Housing Assistance, which is $37,500 for FY2022.
Applicants with questions should talk with a FEMA representative before proceeding. They can either:
- Call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-3362 (including 711 or Video Relay). TTY users can call 800-462-7585. The phone numbers are open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. EDT, seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available. Press 2 for Spanish. Press 3 for Arabic and other languages.
- Visit a Disaster Recovery Center. To find the location, the open hours and more information about any center anywhere, visit FEMA's Disaster Recovery Center Locator or text DRC and your ZIP code to 43362. (Example: DRC 01234.) Standard text message rates apply.
- State of Michigan-FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers are in Wayne and Macomb counties.
For more details about the actions eligible for funding as well as additional information, see this downloadable fema.gov/Hazard Mitigation Under the Individuals and Households Program Fact Sheet. Also, talk to a FEMA representative before starting any work.
For more information about Michigan’s recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4607. FEMA assistance is currently available to residents in Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw and Wayne counties. The deadline for individuals to apply for disaster assistance is Nov. 12, 2021.
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Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency, or economic status. Reasonable accommodations, including translation and American Sign Language interpreters via Video Relay Service, will be available to ensure effective communication with applicants with limited English proficiency, disabilities, and access and functional needs. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-3362 (including 711 or Video Relay). If you are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585.
FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters.