The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has stepped up to support those affected by the recent string of hurricanes—Debby, Helene, and Milton. Residents hit by these natural disasters can find some solace in the array of assistance programs offered by FEMA, particularly the Individuals and Households Program (IHP). According to a report by the HCFL Government's official website, IHP is designed to help with critical expenses not covered elsewhere.
With a registration window of 60 days post-disaster declaration, applicants can seek aid from IHP for up to 18 months. In a statement obtained by the HCFL Government's official website, FEMA outlines two main provisions within the IHP: Housing Assistance (HA) and Other Needs Assistance (ONA). Both arms of this program aim specifically to provide financial relief, with HA also offering the option of direct housing when necessary.
Eligibility for these programs comes with a set of conditions. FEMA updates the maximum awards annually based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), and for the fiscal year 24-25, both HA and ONA have their maximum awards set to $43,600. This number represents a cap designed to balance the availability of federal resources with the spectrum of needs of those affected.
FEMA offers financial assistance predominately for its Housing Assistance program, though direct aid in the form of temporary housing is available for those severely displaced. Similarly, the ONA provision seeks to drastically mitigate a broad range of other disaster-related necessities. "Housing Assistance may be provided in the form of financial assistance (funds provided to an applicant) or direct assistance (housing provided to the applicant by FEMA)," cites HCFL Government’s report. Most HA seeks to be financial, affirming FEMA's commitment to streamlined and tangible aid.
Residents and visitors in affected areas are encouraged to sign up for HCFL Alert. This public notification system from Hillsborough County provides important emergency and urgent updates, helping people respond quickly to changing situations.
