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IDHS > About IDHS > Emergency Response and Recovery > Individual Assistance Individual Assistance

The Human Services Branch administers Individual Assistance as provided under federal law during a Presidential Declared Disaster (PL93-288 as amended by PL100-700).   The Other Needs Assistance (ONA) program is part of the FEMA Individuals and Households Program (IHP) and replaces the Individual and Family Grant Program.   These programs provide assistance in disaster recovery with grants for home repair, rental assistance, and personal property lost or damaged during the disaster.

The ONA program works closely with the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, local unmet needs committees, U.S. Small Business Administration, National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), and various state and local agencies.

Overview of the Individuals and Households Program (IHP)

Individual Assistance (IA)

PURPOSE: When disasters take place, the Individuals and Households Program (IHP) provides money and services to people in the disaster area when losses are not covered by insurance and property has been damaged or destroyed.

IHP funded by FEMA is designed to help you with critical expenses that cannot be covered in other ways.

LIMITATIONS: IHP will not cover all of your losses from damage to your property (home, personal property, household goods) that resulted from the disaster.
IHP is not intended to restore your damaged property to its condition before the disaster. In some cases, IHP may only provide enough money, up to the program limits, for you to return an item to service.

IHP does not cover business‐related losses that resulted from the disaster.

By law, IHP cannot provide money to you for losses that are covered by your insurance.

While some money is available through IHP, most disaster aid from the Federal government is in the form of loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA) that must be repaid. Applicants to IHP may be required to seek help from SBA first, before being considered for certain types of IHP help. You do not have to submit an SBA loan application to be considered for FEMA rental assistance.

Types of Assistance

The following list shows the types of assistance that are available through IHP and what each provides.

Temporary Housing (a place to live for a limited period of time): Money is available to rent a different place to live, or a government provided housing unit when rental properties are not available.

Repair: Money is available to homeowners to repair damage from the disaster that is not covered by insurance. The goal is to make the damaged home safe, sanitary, and functional. Replacement: Money is available to homeowners to replace their home destroyed in the disaster that is not covered by insurance. The goal is to help the homeowner with the cost of replacing their destroyed home.

Permanent/Semi Permanent Housing Construction: Direct assistance or money for the construction of a home. This type of help occurs only in insular areas or remote locations specified by FEMA, where no other type of housing assistance is possible.

Other Needs: Money is available for necessary expenses and serious needs caused by the disaster. This includes medical, dental, funeral, personal property, transportation, moving and storage, and other expenses that are authorized by law.

Damage Assessment Tool Box

Individual Assistance Damage Assessment Tool (igms) (activated only during damage assessment process)

Damage Assessment Procedures for Individual Assistance:

  • Situation is monitored by IDHS/EOC and has close contact with the county EOC
  • Once damaged areas are identified, surveyed and the results reported to IDHS, the county is contacted for a Preliminary Damage Assessment verification survey with the County and State IDHS officials.
  • If enough damages were found and enough damage has been verified in the state to be significant in number County, State and Federal agencies conduct a Joint Preliminary Damage Assessment.
  • FEMA will evaluate the information gathered and verified during the JPDA.  If the verified damage and impacts warrant federal assistance the Governor sends letter to the President requesting a disaster declaration based on the JPDA findings.

Individual Assistance Program (IHP) Tool Box

How to Apply for Assistance (FEMA) - Go to Disaster Assistance

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