Following the Palisades and Eaton wildfires, California secured a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration, which made federal aid available to help individuals and communities rebuild. Provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Individual Assistance and Public Assistance play a crucial role in providing support to those who need help.
What is Individual Assistance?
Individual Assistance provides assistance to eligible individuals, households, businesses and agricultural communities affected by an emergency or disaster, like a wildfire.
Homeowners, renters, business owners, individuals and families located in disaster declared counties may apply for federal Disaster Assistance during a designated application period to repair damaged homes, vehicles and personal property.
Disaster Assistance may include grants to help pay for temporary housing, including rental and lodging expenses, emergency home repairs, uninsured and underinsured personal property losses and health and welfare needs caused by the disaster.
Low-interest disaster loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA) may be available for businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters. Low-interest disaster loans provide financial assistance for repairs and rebuilding efforts, covering the cost of replacing some lost or disaster-damaged real estate and personal property.
What is Public Assistance?
Public Assistance can reimburse local governments and certain Private Nonprofits for emergency work including debris removal and emergency protective measures. It also provides reimbursement for repairs and/or replacement of disaster damaged public facilities and infrastructure, and disaster damaged facilities owned by eligible Private Nonprofits.
Public facilities and infrastructure can include but are not limited to:
- Public buildings such as libraries, community centers, city halls, schools, information centers, and government buildings
- Bridges & roads, equipment, water control facilities, public utilities, and parks and recreational facilities
- Costs for Building Code and Floodplain Management administration and enforcement activities may also be eligible for reimbursement
Working quickly to help communities respond after the wildfires, Individual Assistance and Public Assistance are another critical piece to help get the state on the road to recovery.
For questions and other Public Assistance related inquiries, please send an email to DisasterRecovery@CalOES.ca.gov
