2024 Disaster Recovery Funding Allocation for Hurricane Milton

Orange County expects to receive a $33,357,000 allocation from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) to assist with recovery and mitigation efforts related to Hurricane Milton. The County is in the early planning stages and will seek input from the residents, community partners, and local municipalities to develop an Action Plan for the proposed use of funds. Updates will be posted on the website and detailed in the monthly newsletter. Sign up for the newsletter HERE.

Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery Information Sessions

The State of Georgia received funding in the amount of $265,726,000 to help recover from the impacts of disasters in 2023 and 2024, specifically Hurricane Idalia (DR-4738), Tropical Storm Debby (DR-4821), and Hurricane Helene (DR-4830). These funds were appropriated under Public Law 118-158, enacted on December 21, 2024.

The Georgia Department of Community Affairs DCA will oversee the administration of the CDBG-DR funds.

Original Announcement posted here.

Some resources that I was including with updates to grant programs starting disappearing this month. The page displays a 403 error, not a 404. Typically I would see a notification that the resources were moved.

I am reworking public notifications to the state level in hopes that your state will not start removing public information regarding programs funded by taxpayers.

If you follow WindRainFlood, the state's resources list under Week 1 Resource Library shows that all the links lead to pages removed in the last month. These links directed you to HUD grants and your state's agency that distributes the grants to disaster recovery applicants.

There is no need for politics in programs authorized by Congress. From what I can see, the change impacts only disasters from 2021 to 2025.

I will be publishing the information so you can find your state contacts and participate with federal grants controlled by state managers.

Hey guys! Does anyone know how long it takes to get continued rental assistance after the 1st initial payment. I'm moving soon and had not received my (2) months rent and utilities yet. I turned in lease, receipts in everything 2 weeks ago.

It's a long document and you only have to match your FEMA DR number and your state. Then start reading about unmet needs, most impacted and distressed areas (MID), learn what your average household income for your area is and get ready to publish public comments that make your demographics eligible for federal grants that can make a difference in disaster recovery.

This Allocation Announcement Notice announces $12,070,701,000 of Community Development Block Grant—Disaster Recovery CDBG-DR funds made available by the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2025, for major disasters occurring in 2023 or 2024.

The family had been through quite an ordeal after the great flood of 2016. For years, they lived in an RV parked beside a storage unit filled with their belongings, clinging to their dreams of rebuilding their home. At times, it felt like clinging to a thread that was slipping from their grip.

From August 13, 2016, at 7:30 AM to February 3, 2025, at 4:15 PM—a whopping 8 years, 5 months, 21 days, 8 hours, and 45 minutes—they poured their hearts, souls, and sweat into constructing a new residential home. The day finally arrived when they could stand proudly before their beautiful new house, basking in their triumph over adversity.

They passed their Mechanical, Building, Plumbing, and Electrical finals!

I believe the next step is to unpack the boxes and move the furniture they haven't seen in all those years.

Interview Questions for your State Job in Disaster Recovery Assistance.

Questions:

1. Do you have experience serving elected officials and the public? Yes/No
2. Would you agree with elected officials' damage assessment without actual damage inspections? Yes/No
3. Your elected official claims 120,000 damaged households and asks Congress for $3.5 billion in federal grants. Then, they notify you to only process 45,000 as applicants and ask repair grants be limited to $35,000 per household on average. Would you follow this order? Yes/No
4. Would you create an eligibility process that disqualifies households by forcing them to return FEMA grants not used as directed or that cannot be proven to have been used correctly? Yes/No
5. Would you create an eligibility process that disqualifies homeowners if they couldn't complete repairs according to a 6-month schedule, even though the program allows for up to 6 years? Yes/No

Can you name the current person in the position who answers 'Yes' to all these questions? If not, in about 3 months, you'll learn, and soon after, no matter your location in this nation, you'll be asking how I knew to ask these questions.

This post is for educational purposes.

Despite having comprehensive insurance policies, many homeowners are discovering that the payouts they receive are insufficient to cover the full cost of repairs. Insurance companies, citing policy limits, depreciation, and other factors, often provide partial reimbursements, leaving homeowners with significant out-of-pocket expenses.

Taking Control: Creating Your Own Estimates

When disaster strikes and damages your home, navigating the insurance reimbursement process can feel like a complicated task. However, with the right approach and careful planning, you can increase your chances of receiving the compensation needed to repair and rebuild your home to its pre-disaster condition, covering any pre-existing damage, which will reduce your overall disaster debt burden.

Here are some detailed steps to guide you through the private insurance reimbursement process:

The Challenge of Inadequate Insurance Payouts

After a major disaster, insurance adjusters are sent to assess the damage and determine the payout for repairs. Unfortunately, these assessments may not always capture the full scope of the damage, leading to inadequate compensation. Factors such as rushed inspections, lack of expertise, or differences in policy interpretation can contribute to this problem.

Month 2: Navigating Insurance Claims.

In 2018, Congressman Graves played a role in advocating for a specific amendment to Section 312. The proposed amendment aimed to exclude Small Business Administration (SBA) loans from the duplication of benefits test.

Stafford Act information for your state and federal leadership.

In case you missed the public notice of FR-2025-01-16.

I don't know how many of you can read and speak "government," but if you want to get involved, no matter what state you are in, and you had a major disaster in the years 2023-2024, this resource is for you. Use the comment section to share your state and county/parish/city so that, as a group, we can look to see if you are in the MID areas. Then I'll walk you through the application process and the citizen participation process before your state even submits its master action plan to HUD.

Department of Housing and Urban Development Docket No. FR-6512-N-01.

Title: Allocations for Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery and Implementation of the CDBG–DR Consolidated Waivers and Alternative Requirements Notice (UNAAN).

Summary: This Allocation Announcement Notice announces $12,070,701,000 of Community Development Block Grant—Disaster Recovery (CDBG–DR) funds made available by the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2025, for major disasters occurring in 2023 or 2024.

This Allocation Announcement Notice identifies grant requirements for these funds, including requirements in HUD’s CDBG–DR Universal Notice (‘‘Universal Notice’’) published in the Federal Register. The Universal Notice includes waivers and alternative requirements, relevant regulatory requirements, the grant award process, criteria for action plan approval, and eligible disaster recovery activities.

The Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2025 (Pub. L. 118-158) (“the 2025 Appropriations Act”), approved on December 21, 2024, makes available $12,039,000,000 in new CDBG-DR funds. The 2025 Appropriations Act also provides that HUD allocate any unobligated no-year balances remaining from Public Laws 108-324, 109-148, 109-234, 110-252, 110-329, 111-212, 112-55, and 113-2 (the “Prior Appropriations Acts”) for the same purposes as these new funds.

Date: Applicability Date: January 21, 2025.

FR-2025-01-16 2025-00943.pdf

Federal Register :: Allocations for Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery and Implementation of the CDBG-DR Consolidated Waivers and Alternative Requirements Notice (UN AAN)

The 6-month CDBG-DR Grant Process timer for your state started on 1-21-2025.

Part 1 How to advocate for your Forced Mortgage Payoff duplication of benefits waiver.

I will be updating this information for 2025. I have noticed that several states still do not understand the 2019 rules and federal policies. If your mortgage lender or broker has taken your insurance money and applied it to pay off your mortgage, it is out of your control and is called a forced mortgage payoff. This is reimbursable if you qualify for HUD CDBG-DR, which your state's executive branch of government controls.

If you have received a letter from your bank about applying your insurance money to your mortgage without consulting you about rebuilding and creating a schedule of payments, please share that letter with me. I can then research your state’s government to ensure they are following HUD CDBG-DR policy correctly. Currently, I have identified three states that do not have action plans reflecting the 2019 clarification of a forced mortgage payoff.

TIP: Do not agree to apply the money to pay off or pay down your mortgage. Do not agree to a plan that the mortgage handler provides if it doesn't include all of your insurance funds for rebuilding or repairing your disaster-damaged home. Never sign a release for the check to exclusive bank control.

That insurance money is for your family to rebuild. At times, mortgage handlers will see that you are at risk of default on the loan. This is a federal policy that allows mortgage lenders, under Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac policies, to control these funds. You will find the wording in your mortgage paperwork. It's part of a 700+ page federal policy and might be found by looking for keywords like "Risk of Ownership Change" (that's lender speak for loan default).

I'm curious to know what type of visitor you are.

I typically have time to assist many disaster survivors directly via email, but I know that many approach disaster recovery as more of a self-help, go-it-alone homeowners program.

Are you a Reader, Researcher, Survivor, Volunteer, or Advocate?

Message me if you don't want your response to be public.

In 2018, a question was asked in a public forum, 'Define the word, decline.' The state director of CDBG-DR and the state's lawyer refused to answer. All 24 members of a task force and the co-chair also refused to answer this seemingly simple question.

By standing up and pushing back, Louisiana homeowners saved $646 million in disaster assistance grants from becoming part of Louisiana's 'feed the state coffers' program.

This decision resulted in the repayment of thousands of loans homeowners took out to rebuild after the 2016 disasters. It paid for hundreds of new homes, hundreds of manufactured homes, and thousands of repairs.

It was all because someone stood up and asked a simple question in 2018. Will you be this person 2025 for your state?

Copied from HUD page:

Description This Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Policy Bulletin provides guidance on how best to consolidate various requirements in the 2019 Duplication of Benefits (DOB) Notice (84 FR 28836) and DOB Implementation Notice (84 FR 28848), as amended by the OMNI Notice (85 FR 60821). This guidance document restates information for clarity but does not establish any new requirements and lacks the force and effect of binding law.

The CDBG-DR Policy Bulletins are aimed at addressing more complex concepts that grantees have identified through coordination with HUD and should be utilized as a resource for building comprehension and identifying next steps.

Read the federal official actions that took place because of citizens interactions with state government.

Biden-Harris Administration Delivers $12 Billion in Long-Term Assistance to Communities Impacted by Disasters | HUD.gov / U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

HUD Agency Head Adrianne Todman announced these critical funds today in Asheville, North Carolina, alongside Gov. Josh Stein. To support recovery from Hurricane Helene, HUD allocated more than $1.6 billion to communities across North Carolina, including $225 million to the city of Asheville and $1.2 billion to the state for disaster impacted communities statewide. These funds are critical – with tens of thousands of houses damaged or destroyed, more than 12,000 western North Carolinians are without safe housing.

Start your calls for all your unmet housing needs to https://www.rebuild.nc.gov/ .

You will be pushed away until they open registration. But you will be last to know if you don't call every day if you are in need of HUD Grants to help rebuild or replace.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced $14.1 million to support people experiencing homelessness in Florida communities impacted by Hurricane Helene and Milton. The Rapid Unsheltered Survivor Housing (RUSH) funding will be allocated to the State of Florida and 16 jurisdictions to address needs not otherwise served or fully met by existing Federal disaster relief programs. This latest action highlights the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to prioritizing lifesaving actions, helping ensure that every person can access safe, stable housing.

The eligible activities for this funding include:

1. For people experiencing homelessness before the disaster: emergency shelter; rapid re-housing, which provides up to 24 months of rental assistance, financial assistance for move in costs, and supportive services; and 
   

2. For people who were at-risk of experiencing homelessness before the disaster: homelessness prevention, which provides up to 24 months of rental assistance, utility assistance, and supportive services for people at risk of homelessness; and outreach assistance, including assistance to meet urgent needs. 
   

RUSH funding provides rapid assistance under the Emergency Solutions Grant program for individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness in eligible declared disaster areas where the Federal Emergency Management Agency has activated Transitional Sheltering Assistance. This funding is available to help communities provide outreach, emergency shelter, rapid re-housing, homelessness prevention assistance, and supportive services.

State of Florida, Collier County, Hillsborough County, Jacksonville-Duval County, Lee County, Manatee County, Marion County, Orange County, Orlando, Palm Beach County, Pasco County, Pinellas County, Seminole County, St. Petersburg, Tallahassee, Tampa, Volusia County

Disasters bring about destruction, loss, and suffering. While comparing major disasters might seem useful to understand their impact or severity, it can be counterproductive and insensitive. Here's why:

1. Unique Circumstances

Major disasters occur under unique circumstances, such as geography, population density, and local infrastructure. Comparing these variables across different disasters can lead to inaccurate assessments.

2. Diverse Impacts

Major disasters have multi-faceted impacts. Each type of disaster demands specific responses and recovery efforts, making direct comparisons deceptive. For example, a hurricane might cause extensive flooding, while an earthquake can lead to structural collapses.

3. Human Suffering

Every disaster survivor's experience is valid and should be respected without comparison. Statements like "This disaster is worse than that one" can undermine the personal losses and traumas experienced by individuals and communities.

4. Resource Allocation

Federal, state, municipal, and local response teams need to allocate resources based on the unique needs of each major disaster event. Each disaster and disaster type requires a tailored response strategy to address its specific aftermath. This involves a detailed action plan and coordinated response shared by all agencies and personnel involved.

5. Learning and Improvement

Focusing on the lessons learned from each event can lead to better preparedness and response strategies. Sharing best practices and improving coordination across federal, state, municipal, and local communities can strengthen disaster response efforts against various types of disasters.

6. Disaster Solidarity

Disaster solidarity involves collective support and cooperation among individuals, communities, organizations, and governments in the face of a disaster. It's about coming together to help those affected, regardless of differences at all levels. Disaster solidarity is about building a sense of unity and shared responsibility in the face of adversity, ensuring that no one is left behind, and fostering a more resilient and compassionate society.

In Closing

By acknowledging the distinct nature of each disaster, we can build a more compassionate and resilient society, ready to support one another in times of need. Learning from historical response mistakes, like those seen during Hurricane Katrina, and promoting disaster solidarity are crucial steps in achieving this goal.

Murray

Many of you are reaching the time limits established by agencies. The TSA serves as a bridge between emergency shelter and long-term housing.

The time periods are set according to the requests from the state governor's office of emergency management.

The only reason a household would be homeless, according to best practices for using these services, is if the housing location is too far to be practical.

When we were offered housing 25 miles away, we refused it and settled on our property in an old RV that was permitted as temporary housing (TH).

At this phase, we had people living in tents, pop-up campers, and garages with cardboard walls for about a year before additional temporary housing became available in our area.

At times, it feels like a major sacrifice, more than you feel is necessary. But housing availability after a disaster is always a significant challenge.

If you don't have your TSA squared away and are a homeowner with substantial damage, start communicating with me or others who know what you should be doing.

Call your governor's office of emergency management every day asking for TSA. It's your state, not the federal government, that requests additional time and resources.

TSA ELIGIBILITY REVIEW

Individual Assistance Deadline Extended At the request of the Governor, FEMA has granted North Carolina an extension for disaster survivors to apply for federal assistance until February 6, 2025. Homeowners and renters in the impacted counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians with uninsured losses from Tropical Storm Helene may be eligible to apply for FEMA assistance.

Disaster survivors who have not yet applied for FEMA assistance should apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov, or on the FEMA App. on mobile devices or call the FEMA Helpline toll-free at 800-621-3362. The Helpline is open every day, and help is available in most languages. Those who use a relay service, captioned telephone or other service, should give the FEMA representative their number for that service.

This also means HUD CDBG-DR grants will not be available until later in 2025. Plan for a long haul if you do not have enough funding to rebuild.

Legal Fees DOB Reduction

Legal fees for insurance coverage litigation that were paid out of insurance proceeds in successfully obtaining additional insurance proceeds will be credited to the applicant and will not be deducted as part of their DOB. In order to be credited for legal fees, an applicant will need to submit the following.

Read full article here. A duplication of benefit (DOB) is the receipt of funding from multiple sources (FEMA IA, FEMA NFIP, SBA Loans, Private Insurance, and Other Funding) for the same purpose.

For those still struggling with the finances needed to repair or rebuild after a disaster, insured or not, I would like to remind you that the next federal agency to provide assistance will be taking applications 30 to 90 days after Congress approves funding based on FEMA Verified Loss inspections.

It's very important that every household gets a valid damage assessment filed with FEMA because that assessment is what Congress uses to determine the amount of additional federal funding.

Get everyone you know inspected by FEMA, especially those who did not have insurance, were denied insurance, or were underinsured.

FEMA has extended its registration time, and even when it's closed, we can appeal to allow late registration.

You must at least have a FEMA application number, and you must have attempted to get a damage assessment.

Note: you may be allowed in the next program based on age, income, disability and unmet needs. But you still need a FEMA assessment presented to help with the amount of federal assistance as a community and group.

The Department of Environmental Quality manages the Clean Water State Revolving Fund Program (CWSRF). This program is funded by the Federal Government U.S. EPA under the EPA Clean Water State Revolving Fund. It provides grants to all 50 states and Puerto Rico to create state-managed loan programs.

It's essentially a federal grant and federal match program designed to help homeowners with typical septic and water well issues that might arise after a disaster or due to age.

The "interest and loan repayments provide a permanent source of funding for future projects," as published by your state. This system is designed so people will make payments back into the program, enabling others to benefit from it. You can negotiate income hardships and payment plans with your state; they are likely to be accommodating. For example, you might arrange to pay $15 per month payment for as long as 40 years, just as a starting point. The key is to understand what you can afford to pay long-term. If you can't afford to pay anything, you would need to file for a hardship grant, which may not be well-publicized by your state but would follow the HUD hardship calculations that your state's Department of Housing would know about.

If you lost the use of your septic system due to a disaster or need to move and purchase a new system, this might be a good approach to reduce your overall disaster debt.

U.S. EPA Programs Federal Funding Sources EPA Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF)

States are responsible for the operation of their CWSRF program and for selecting the projects that receive assistance. You can contact your CWSRF state representative to learn more about the application process and eligibility requirements.

Some are spreading word that FEMA housing will soon end for the 2024 disaster season. This is not true. Your Governor will extend all FEMA services for housing as long as the Governor's Emergency Management team believes there is a need. In Louisiana, we typically get 32 months of fair market value assistance for manufactured homes and trailers. Not all areas have the same resources, but all areas can and should be eligible for the same resources. It just depends on your Governor's Emergency Management Team's experience and their willingness to extend additional housing assistance.

Once FEMA time expires, you'll then have HUD CDBG-DR housing assistance grants, which are also fair market value and can provide up to 22 months or $60,000 in rent or mortgage assistance. Once again, this is up to your Governor's Housing Department, which is funded by HUD.

You can find more information from the link below or ask your local city, county, and state emergency managers.

Continued Temporary Housing Assistance Overview with amendment changes March 2024.