SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Hoopa Valley Tribe is now eligible for FEMA disaster assistance to help recover from the severe winter storms and mudslides Feb. 14 to March 5, 2023.
Residents affected by the disaster may apply for grants to help pay for temporary housing and essential home repairs as well as other disaster-related needs, such as replacement of damaged essential personal property and expenses, such as for transportation, childcare, moving and storage.
Applications to FEMA can be submitted by visiting DisasterAssistance.gov or downloading the FEMA mobile app, or by calling FEMA’s Helpline at 800-621-3362. Helpline operators speak many languages and lines are open from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Press 2 for Spanish. Press 3 for an interpreter for other languages. If you use video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA your number for that service.
If you would like to speak to a disaster recovery specialist in person, you can visit the Disaster Recovery Center that has opened at the Hoopa Fire Department. Address is 11121 CA-96, Hoopa, CA 95546. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
Specialists on FEMA’s Helpline or at the recovery center can answer questions about your application. Specialists at the recovery center can also scan or copy information or documents needed for your application.
Representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration are also available at the recovery center to provide program information and explain how to apply for SBA’s low-interest disaster loans. These loans are offered to homeowners and renters, business owners and private nonprofits. If you are referred to SBA by FEMA, you should fill out the loan application. If you do not qualify for an SBA loan, you may be referred back to FEMA and considered for a grant to help you recover.
Disaster Recovery Centers are barrier-free and provide equal access to all visitors. If you use American Sign Language or assistive technology, and if you need accommodations to communicate, please notify FEMA staff at the center immediately.
The tribe has been eligible for FEMA’s Public Assistance program since April 25, 2023. Public Assistance is available to the tribal government and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of public facilities and infrastructure damaged by the disaster.
Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures.