DISASTER DAMAGED HOUSES OF WORSHIP MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR FEMA FUNDING
[https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20230511/disaster-damaged-houses-worship-may-be-eligible-fema-funding]


Release Date: 
5月 11, 2023 

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Houses of worship (HOW) and other private nonprofit
organizations may be eligible for FEMA assistance to help reimburse
costs for emergency protective measures, debris removal and
restoration of facilities damaged by storms, straight-line-winds,
flooding, landslides and mudslides affecting Kentucky between February
15-20, 2023.

FEMA’s Public Assistance program may provide financial assistance to
certain private nonprofit organizations – including houses of
worship – to restore facilities damaged or destroyed in this
disaster. The federal share for Public Assistance projects is not less
than 75 percent of the eligible cost. The state determines how the
non-federal share of the cost of a project (up to 25 percent) is split
with the sub-recipients such as houses of worship.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR HOUSES OF WORSHIP

 	* Be located within the designated counties
[https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4711/designated-areas]; and experienced
property damage caused by February’s severe weather
 	* Provide a current ruling letter from the IRS granting tax
exemption under Section 501 (c) (d) or (e) of the IRS Code of 1954, or
documentation from the Kentucky Secretary of State indicating
nonprofit status
 	* Provide proof of ownership or lease documents which establishes
whose legal responsibility it is to repair incident-related impacts
 	* Eligible applicants must first apply to the U.S. Small Business
Administration for a low-interest disaster loan before FEMA can
determine if the organization is eligible for assistance.

SBA DISASTER LOANS ARE A CRITICAL PART OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS

 	* FEMA will provide financial assistance only if the house of
worship is denied an SBA loan - or if the loan authorized is
insufficient to cover repair costs.

	* FEMA may only provide funding for eligible “Permanent Work”
costs an SBA disaster loan does not cover. 

	* Permanent work includes, but is not limited to, roads, bridges,
dams, reservoirs, levees, floodwalls and other water-control
facilities, as well as buildings and equipment. 

 	* Permanent Work usually has to be completed within 18-months from
the date of disaster declaration, which was signed on May 9, unless an
extension is authorized.

The first step is to submit a Request for Public Assistance, which
needs to happen by June 8, 2023.

For more information on submitting a Request for Public Assistance,
click on this link: How to Apply for Public Assistance
[https://www.fema.gov/assistance/public/apply]. Applicants should also
contact their county emergency manager, Kentucky Emergency Management
or email pa.help@KY-em.org.

For the latest information on disaster recovery in Kentucky, visit
fema.gov/disaster/4711 [https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4711/] and
follow FEMA on Twitter at twitter.com/FEMARegion4
[https://twitter.com/FEMARegion4]. You can also visit the Governor’s
website at governor.ky.gov/disaster-response/flood-response
[https://www.governor.ky.gov/disaster-response/flood-response].