Federal grants, loans available to those affected by January storms

Berkeley homeowners, renters, and businesses can apply for federal funding to help pay for essential repairs or serious disaster-related needs resulting from the January storms that were not covered by insurance.

Apply by phone, online, using an app, or in person to cover serious disaster-related needs -- which include medical and dental expenses, transportation, childcare, and moving and storage expenses. 

These FEMA grants apply to those eligible Berkeleyans who had storm-related property damage between Dec. 31, 2022, to Jan. 30, 2023. Those who apply will be considered for two types of grants:

• up to $37,900 for property damages to a primary residence.
• up to $37,900 for other needs, such as a hotel stay while displaced, funds to replace damaged items, and increases to childcare or medical expenses during the disaster.

Loans for storm relief are also available to homeowners, renters, and businesses through the federal Small Business Administration. These loans can be paid off over thirty years and can have interest limits as low as 4 percent, depending on access to alternative credit. The loan types include:

• Homeowners: Up to $200,000 to repair or replace a primary residence
• Renters/Homeowners: Up to $40,000 to replace or repair personal property, like clothing, furniture, cars, or appliances
• Businesses: Up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations or operating expenses that would have been avoided had the disaster not happened.

Often, flood damages aren’t covered by typical homeowner’s insurance, so these can be very costly repairs. See if the grants and loans can help you and your household.

People can apply for the FEMA grants online, by phone (1-800-621-3362), via app, or at a disaster assistance center. To apply for a Small Business Administration loan, see their disaster loan website, their application portal, and a factsheet about their loan products.

Applicants must meet eligibility guidelines

In general, applicants for the FEMA grants must meet all of the following conditions to qualify:

• You or someone who lives with you is a U.S. citizen, a non-citizen national, or a qualified alien. If you have questions about FEMA’s citizenship and immigration requirements, please visit their website.
• You pass FEMA’s identity and occupancy verification if it applies to you.
• You have no insurance –or– have filed an insurance claim, but it does not cover all of your losses.
• You have serious needs or expenses due to losses in a Presidentially declared disaster area.

Alameda County was recently added to the major disaster declaration for California’s severe storms and flooding. The declaration allows FEMA and the Small Business Administration to provide direct support to individuals, households, nonprofits, and businesses in Alameda County and other counties in California.

FEMA Disaster Assistance helps Cover Uninsured or under-insured expenses

Disaster assistance may include grants to help pay for temporary housing and essential home repairs as well as other serious disaster-related needs such as medical and dental expenses, transportation, childcare, and moving and storage expenses.

If you have insurance, first file a claim with your insurance provider. FEMA provides assistance to applicants for your uninsured or underinsured disaster-caused expenses and serious needs.

Applying does not guarantee that assistance will be awarded.

Learn more about Applying

Keep track of deadlines and apply as soon as you are able to meet the March 16 FEMA deadline.

Links

• DisasterAssistance.gov (FEMA)
• U.S. Small Business Administration Disaster Loans (SBA)
• Informational flyer about FEMA Disaster Assistance (FEMA)
• FEMA disaster page for 2023 California Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (FEMA)
• I Applied for Disaster Assistance, What’s Next? (FEMA)
• 2023 California Storms – Insurance Claim and Recovery Help (United Policy Holders, 501(c)(3))