On September 10th, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to supplement commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by Hurricane Ida from August 31 to September 5, 2021.
Financial assistance was made available for affected individuals. Federal assistance programs included but were not limited to rental assistance, repair or replacement of housing to a safe, sanitary, and functional standard (not pre-disaster condition), funds for other needs (e.g., vehicles, clothing, appliances, etc.), and low-interest loans.
Individual Assistance
The FEMA Individual Assistance application period ended on January 10, 2022, and the late registration period ended on March 10, 2022. Individuals with questions are encouraged to contact FEMA at 1-800-621-3362 / TTY 1-800-462-7585 (7 a.m. to 1 a.m. ET, 7 days a week).
Appeals and Continued Rental Assistance
Appeals
Determined ineligible for FEMA disaster assistance? You can appeal the decision within 60 days. Click here to learn more.
In addition, homeowners whose furnaces, septic systems, bridges, and/or wells were damaged may be eligible for financial assistance under FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program. People who are determined ineligible, or received an initial amount for cleaning or testing, have the right to appeal for additional assistance in some cases up to the actual cost of repair or replacement of furnaces, septic systems, bridges, and wells. Click here for more information.
Continued Rental Assistance
Survivors of Hurricane Ida who live in Montgomery County or other designated counties in Pennsylvania and received initial rental assistance from FEMA may be eligible for continued rental assistance. To be eligible to apply, survivors must meet the following conditions:
- They were awarded initial rental assistance and used it as intended. The initial award covered two months.
- They are unable to return to their pre-disaster residence because it is uninhabitable, cannot be accessed, or is not available due to Hurricane Ida.
- They cannot pay for housing without assistance.
- They are not receiving temporary housing help from any other source.
- They are developing a longer-term or permanent housing plan or can demonstrate progress toward one.
Survivors applying for continued assistance must complete an Application for Continued Temporary Housing Assistance. To request this form, call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.
- Applicants should submit the following documents with the completed application: Pre- and post-disaster income for household members 18 and older.
- Proof of pre-disaster housing costs (copy of lease and utility bills, renter’s insurance, mortgage statements, real estate taxes, home insurance, etc.)
- Proof of post-disaster housing costs (copy of current lease or rental agreement signed by the applicant and the landlord).
The application form and supporting documents should be returned to FEMA in one of the following ways:
- Upload them to your disaster account at www.disasterassistance.gov.
- Mail them to FEMA, PO Box 10055, Hyattsville, MD 20782-8055.
- Fax them to 800-827-8112.
FEMA will evaluate the request to determine if the applicant is eligible. It is important for applicants to keep FEMA updated with their contact information and housing status.
U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) Physical Disaster Loans
The application deadlines for SBA Disaster Assistance have passed. Questions? Call 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for deaf/hard of hearing) between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., seven days a week, or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
FEMA Public* Assistance
The Public Assistance application period has ended, effective December 7, 2021. Agencies with questions may contact PEMA Specialist Jonathan Skripka at jskripka@pa.gov.
*NOTE: the term "Public" here refers to public agencies (i.e., governments), not members of the public. Individuals and households are eligible to apply for aid through the Individual Assistance program (see details above).
