Provides limited financial assistance in the event of a Governor Disaster Declaration for eligible households that have disaster-related needs and are unable to meet such needs through other means. The program awards reimbursement grants to a maximum per household grant of $5,000. Household income must be at 200% of federal poverty level or a maximum annual income of $41,560 for a family of three. Grants are available for home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food, and for the expense of temporary housing. Original receipts are required for those seeking reimbursement for actual expenses related to storm recovery.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

- Must live in Governor Disaster Declaration area.
- Must be a legal resident of the United States and 18 + years old.
- Income guidelines for families, income must be at or below 200% of federal poverty level.
- Individuals residing in the household must be able to verify occupancy.
- Application must be sent in within 45 days of declaration to your local Community Action Association.

TO APPLY - There are 2 different ways to apply:
1. Print off an application, fill it out, then take it to your local Community Action Partnership.
2. Go to your local Community Action Partnership and they can help you apply.
COUNTIES ELIGIBLE FOR ASSISTANCE:The Governor has issued a disaster proclamation for the following counties in Iowa:

- Buena Vista County is now eligible for the Individual Disaster Assistance Grant and Disaster Case Management through the local community action agency in response to the Avian Influenza outbreak. Deadline to apply for the grant is April 13, 2025 (45 days from proclamation).

- Crawford, Harrison, Monona, Shelby, and Woodbury Counties are now eligible for the Individual Disaster Assistance Grant and Disaster Case Management through the local community action agency in response to severe winter weather. Deadline to apply for the grant is April 3, 2025.

- Harrison County is now eligible for the Individual Disaster Assistance Grant and Disaster Case Management through the local community action agency in response to severe winter weather. Deadline to apply for the grant is April 26, 2025.

- Buena Vista, Fremont, Page and Plymouth Counties are now eligible for the Individual Disaster Assistance Grant and Disaster Case Management through the local community action agency in response to severe weather. Deadline to apply for the grant is May 18, 2025.

**If FEMA has declared the county as a National Disaster, clients should apply with FEMA first 1-800-621-3362 for Allamakee, Cass, Des Moines, Fayette, Henry, and Lee counties

Offers emergency financial assistance once per year to anyone in need. Assistance may be given in the areas of rental assistance, disaster relief, gasoline, utility (water/sewage/trash only), and uniforms assistance.

DISASTER ASSISTANCE is money or direct assistance to individuals, families and businesses in an area whose property has been damaged or destroyed by a disaster and whose losses are not covered by insurance. It is meant to help with critical expenses that cannot be covered in other ways. This assistance is not intended to restore damaged property to its condition before the disaster. If a county has received an Individual Assistance declaration, residents are eligible to register with FEMA.

Call (800) 621-3362 or TTY (800) 462-7585, Mon-Sun 6 am-12 midnight Central; or apply online www.disasterassistance.gov.

Have this information when applying:
--Social Security number
--Address of the damaged home or apartment
--Mailing address
--Telephone number
--Description of the damage
--Information about insurance coverage
--Bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit of funds

2025 COUNTIES ELIGIBLE FOR FEMA FUNDING:

- Crawford, Harrison, Monona, and Woodbury Counties are now eligible for the FEMA Disaster Assistance in response to severe weather occurring on May 19, 2025. Deadline to apply for FEMA assistance is TBD.

FEMA works with every household on a case-by-case basis. How to apply:
-- Visit DisasterAssistance.gov
-- Call FEMA directly at (800) 621-FEMA. [(800) 621-3362)]
-- Download and use the FEMA app

FEMA can provide money that does not have to be repaid for:

-- Serious needs, such as food, water, medicine, baby formula
-- Displacement, if you can't stay in your home because of the damage.
-- Home repairs and rental assistance
-- Other needs, such as replacing personal property

Only one registration per household is needed. When applying, have the following information available:
-- Address with Zip Code
-- Condition of your damaged home
-- Insurance information, if available
-- Social Security Number of one member of the household
-- Phone number where you can be contacted
-- Address where you can get mail or an email address
-- Bank account information for direct deposit of funds

By law, FEMA is not allowed to pay for losses covered by insurance, so please stay in close contact with your insurance agency. If insurance will not cover all your losses, you are encouraged to apply. You can apply whether you have insurance or not.

In coming days and in coordination with state and local emergency management, FEMA will have staff visiting impacted neighborhoods. They will carry official ID and will not ask for money. This will include staff who are assessing damage and providing information to residents.

• The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien who incurred funeral expenses after Jan. 20, 2020 until Sep. 30, 2025 for a death attributed to COVID-19.
• If multiple individuals contributed toward funeral expenses, they should apply under a single application as applicant and co-applicant. FEMA will also consider documentation from other individuals not listed as the applicant and co-applicant who may have incurred funeral expenses as part of the registration for the deceased individual.
• An applicant may apply for multiple deceased individuals.
• The COVID-19-related death must have occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories and the District of Columbia.
• This assistance is limited to a maximum financial amount of $9,000 per funeral and a maximum of $35,500 per application.
• Funeral assistance is intended to assist with expenses for funeral services and interment or cremation.

• Applicants who incurred COVID-19-related funeral expenses between Jan. 20 and May 16, 2020, will be able to submit a death certificate that does not attribute the death to COVID-19 along with a signed statement from the certifying official listed on the death certificate, coroner, or medical examiner linking the death to COVID-19. The written statement must show causal pathway, or an explanation, linking the cause of death listed on the death certificate to the virus and should be submitted with the death certificate. Applicants also retain the option of contacting the individual who certified the death to request a death certificate amendment if they can provide justification demonstrating the death should be attributed to COVID-19. The certifying individual's name and address should be on the death certificate. For deaths occurring after May 16, 2020, COVID-19 funeral assistance documentation must include a copy of a death certificate that attributes the death to COVID-19.
• Funeral expense documents (receipts, funeral home contract, etc.) that include the applicant's name, the deceased individual's name, the amount of funeral expenses, and the dates the funeral expenses were incurred.
• Proof of funds received from other sources specifically for use toward funeral costs. Funeral assistance may not duplicate benefits received from burial or funeral insurance, financial assistance received from voluntary agencies, federal/state/local/tribal/territorial government programs or agencies, or other sources.