Assistance for Severe Weather and Flooding that occurred in December 2023 and January 2024 Residents of Kent, Providence, and Washington counties, who were affected by severe storms and flooding that occurred between December 17-19, 2023, and between January 9-13, 2024, can apply for federal assistance. Homeowners and renters who received property loss or damages by either disaster in those counties have until May 20, 2024, to apply. When applying for assistance, you must describe what damage(s) happened on which date to ensure you’re applying under the correct disaster.FEMA Assistance - There are several ways for homeowners and renters to apply.1. Visit a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) at: a. Cumberland Public Library, 1464 Diamond Hill Road, Cumberland, RI 02864 (Open: 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays) b. William Winsor Elementary School, 562 Putman Pike, Greenville, RI 02828 (Open: 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays.) c. Coventry Town Hall Annex, 1675 Flat River Road, Coventry, RI 02879 (Open: 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays.) d. Knightsville Manor (Community Room), 85 Briggs Street, Cranston, RI 02920 (Open: 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays.) 2. Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. Help is available in most languages. 3. Go online to DisasterAssistance.gov (also in Spanish).4. Download the FEMA mobile app (also in Spanish) at Google Play or the Apple App Store. To view an accessible video on how to apply visit Three Ways to Register for FEMA Disaster Assistance - YouTube SBA Assistance - Ways to apply for low-interest disaster loans available to businesses and residents in Rhode Island 1. Visit the Business Recovery Center (BRC) at: North Providence Public Safety Complex 1835 Mineral Spring Avenue North Providence, RI 02904 - Hours of operation: 9 a.m.– 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. Closed Sundays. 2. Apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at SBA.gov/disaster. 3. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 4. Email: disastercustomerservice@sba.gov To view an accessible video on how to apply for SBA visit Reasons to apply for a SBA Loan.
Hazard Mitigation The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grant programs for the State of Rhode Island are administered by the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA). The programs are designed to provide funding for eligible mitigation activities that protect life, property and the environment from future disaster damages. Mitigation supports actions that are long-term, cost-effective and environmentally sound. HMA funding opportunities enable eligible sub-applicants to implement mitigation actions pre and post-disaster. There are three (3) HMA programs outlined in the FY2015 Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Unified Guidance and programmatic details are available on FEMA’s HMA website. Flood Mitigation Assistance Pre-Disaster Mitigation Hazard Mitigation Grant Program In addition to the mitigation project funding available through the HMA programs above, mitigation planning provides governments with a framework designed to guide decision making pre and post disaster. To learn more about the mitigation planning process click here. Flood Mitigation Assistance Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) provides funds that measures can be taken to reduce or eliminate risk of flood damage to buildings insured under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Funding is available on an annual basis (as appropriated). In 2013, the FMA program was reorganized. This process consolidated multiple flood mitgiation programs into a single FMA program which seeks to reduce or eliminate claims under the National Flood Insurance Program. Below are the previously independent programs that have been absorbed into the FMA program: Repetitive Flood Claims: Program aimed to reduce flood damages to properties for which one or more flood insurance claim payments had been made. Severe Repetitive Loss: Program was designed to reduce flood damages to residential properties that had experienced severe repetitive losses under flood insurance coverage. Cost Share 75% (Federal) / 25% (Non-Federal) – insured properties and planning grants 90% (Federal) / 10% (Non-Federal) – repetitive loss (RL)* property 100% (Federal) – severe repetitive loss (SRL)* property *Repetitive Loss: A structure that has incurred flood-related damage on two (2) occasions, in which the cost of the repair, on the average, equaled or exceeded 25 percent of the market value of the structure at the time of each such flood event. *Severe Repetitive Loss: A structure has at least four (4) flood related damages claims payments (including building and contents) over $5,000 each, and the cumulative amount of such claims payments exceeds $20,000. Eligible Sub-Applicants State Agencies Local Governments Tribal Governments Successful Rhode Island Sub-Applicants Award Year: Number of Sub-Grantees: Activity Type(s): Total Federal Share: 2013 1 Residential Elevation $190,251.00 For additional program specific information, please visit FEMA's FMA website. Pre-Disaster Mitigation Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) provides funds for hazard mitigation planning and the implementation of mitigation projects prior to a disaster. The goal of the PDM program is to reduce overall risk to the population and structures, while at the same time, also reducing reliance on Federal funding from actual disaster declarations. Funding is available on an annual basis (as appropriated). For Rhode Island communities, PDM has traditionally been the most popular way to receive an award to create or update a local hazard mitigation plan. Sub-applicants may also pursue funds through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program for mitigation planning. For more information on the mitigation planning processes, please visit the Mitigation Planning page. Cost Share 75% (Federal) / 25% (Non-Federal) Eligible Sub-Applicants State Agencies Local Governments Tribal Governments Successful Rhode Island Sub-Applicants Award Year: Number of Sub-Grantees: Activity Type(s): Total Federal Share: 2009 4 Hazard Mitigation Plans $31,521.15 2010 16 Hazard Mitigation Plans $226,102.71 2011 1 Hazard Mitigation Plan $28,056.72 2012 3 Hazard Mitigation Plans & Residential Acquisition $243,302.25 2013 2 Utility Elevation Water Main Relocation $1,394,366.88 2014 2 Generator Purchase and Installation Hazard Mitigation Planning $79,875.00 For more program specific information, please visit FEMA's PDM website. Hazard Mitigation Grant Program The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) assists in implementing long-term hazard mitigation measures following Presidential disaster declarations. Funding is available to implement plans or projects in accordance with State, Tribal, and local priorities. Unlike the FMA or PDM programs, HMGP is the ONLY post-disaster mitigation program. Following a disaster declaration, States are allotted 15% of total disaster assistance grants provided by FEMA for HMGP. Cost Share 75% (Federal) / 25% (Non-Federal) Eligible Sub-Applicants State Agencies Local Governments Tribal Governments Private Non-Profit Organizations Successful Rhode Island Sub-Applicants Declared Disaster Event Number of Sub-Grantees Activity Types Total Federal Share (To Date) HMGP DR-1894 March 2010 Floods 13 Backflow Valves Outreach Initiative Residential Acquisitions Structure Relocation $2,962,408.00 HMGP DR-4027 Tropical Storm Irene 13 Backflow Valves Hazard Mitigation Planning Residential Elevations $1,119,240.00 HMGP DR-4089 Hurricane Sandy 6 Generator Installations Hazard Mitigation Planning Residential Elevations $857,580.00 HMGP DR-4107 Severe Winter Storm 2013 5 Generator Installations Hazard Mitigation Planning Residential Acquisitions $299,643.00 For more program specific information, please visit FEMA's HMPG website. Additional Resources Grant Programs Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant Programs Guidance & Regulations Hazard Mitigation Assistance Mitigation Fact Sheets Mitigation Ideas Mitigation's Value to Society RI Disaster Declarations Planning Hazard Mitigation Planning Local Mitigation Planning Handbook Local Mitigation Plan Review Guide Resources State Mitigation Plan Review Guide