05/03/2024
Rhode Island: Storms and Flooding in December 2023 and January 2024
Key Messages
President Biden issued two separate major disaster declaration for Rhode Island the severe storms and flooding that took place Dec. 17-19, 2023, and Jan. 9-13, 2024 for Kent, Providence and Washington counties.
Residents who were affected by both incidents must apply for FEMA assistance separately for each event.
For incident period Dec. 17-19, 2023, 687 survivors have been approved for more than $2.8 million in FEMA assistance Of that total:
o $2,899,232 for Housing
o $86,709 for Other Needs
For incident period Jan. 9-13, 2024, 1,374 survivors have been approved for more than $6.6 million in FEMA assistance. Of that total:
o $6,407,654 for Housing
o $207,465 for Other Needs
Assistance may include grants for temporary housing, uninsured or underinsured home repairs and personal property, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the disaster.
The deadline to apply for federal disaster assistance is May 20, 2024.
How to Apply for FEMA Assistance
To apply for FEMA assistance:
o Visit DisasterAssistance.gov;
o Download the FEMA App; or,
o Call 1-800-621-3362. Help is available in most languages. If you use video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or another relay service, give FEMA your number for that service when you call. Phone lines operate from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. seven days a week.
When you apply, have the following information ready:
o The Social Security number for the head of household/applicant and any co-applicant
o The address and phone number where you are staying.
o A description of damage to your home.
Be sure to share updates with FEMA so we can continue to review your case.
Disaster Assistance Teams
DSA teams from FEMA are canvassing neighborhoods and helping storm-affected residents apply for FEMA disaster assistance.
DSA crew members are visiting homes, schools, nonprofits and communities with limited access. They are also meeting with local officials and community leaders to identify disaster-related issues and unmet needs.
DSA teams can help survivors apply for assistance, update their information and assist with referrals to voluntary agency partners. They may give residents the opportunity to use a tablet to register or offer to enter information on their behalf. DSA staff wear a FEMA identification badge with their photograph.
FEMA does not charge money to apply.
Disaster Recovery Centers
Disaster Recovery Centers provide information from Rhode Island state agencies, FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration. Survivors can visit to get help applying for federal assistance, update applications and learn about available resources.
All centers are accessible to people with disabilities and access and functional needs and are equipped with assistive technology equipment. If you need a reasonable accommodation or sign language interpreter, please let a FEMA specialist at the DRC know.
Hours of operation: 8 am– 6:30 pm, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday. Closed Sundays.
Currently, DRCS are located at:
Coventry Town Hall Annex, 1675 Flat River Rd, Coventry, RI 02816
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 am– 6:30 pm, Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Warwick Fire Department, Station 10, 225 Potowomut Road, Warwick, Rhode Island 02818
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Cumberland Public Library (tents outside), 1464 Diamond Hill Road, Cumberland, RI 02864
Hours: Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Inclement weather could change the hours.
Knightsville Manor (Community Room), 85 Briggs Street, Cranston, Rhode Island 02920
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Understanding Your FEMA Letter
If you applied for assistance, you will receive a letter from FEMA explaining the status of your application.
If the applicant is found ineligible, please read the letter carefully as it will explain the reasons for the ineligibility. In some circumstances, the survivor may only need to submit additional information or supporting documentation for FEMA to continue processing the application.
Questions about your letter can be answered by calling 800-621-3362 or visiting a Disaster Recovery Center.
Appealing FEMA’s Decision
If you don’t agree with your decision letter, you may submit an appeal letter and documents supporting their claim, such as a contractor’s estimate for home repairs, or missing documents as described in the determination letter for additional consideration.
FEMA cannot duplicate assistance provided by another source, such as insurance settlements. Survivors who are underinsured may receive additional assistance for unmet needs after insurance claims have been settled.
Appeal letters must be postmarked within 60 days of the date of the determination letter. Letters and supporting documents may be submitted to FEMA by fax, mail or via a FEMA online account. To set up an online account, visit DisasterAssistance.gov, click on “Apply Online” and follow the directions.
By mail: FEMA National Processing Service Center, P.O. Box 10055, Hyattsville MD 20782-7055
By fax: 800-827-8112 Attention: FEMA
FEMA May Help with Recovery Expenses Already Paid
FEMA may be able to reimburse survivors whose homes or personal property were damaged or destroyed as a result of the severe storms and flooding. As survivors pay for repairs and replacements, they should save their receipts.
FEMA will only approve home repairs that are necessary to restore the home to a habitable condition. This includes: appliances, clothing, room furnishings, essential tools and accessible items.
Applicants must meet the following conditions to receive Personal Property Assistance:
The item needs to be repaired or replaced due to disaster damage.
The occupants of the household have an unmet disaster-related need for the damaged item. FEMA may not provide assistance if the applicant can meet that need with another similar item in their possession or available to the household.
The item was owned and being used by occupants of the household. FEMA does not provide assistance for furnishings and/or appliances provided by a landlord. Items used by guests and relatives who were not members of the pre-disaster household are not eligible for assistance.
Disaster Assistance for Privately Owned Roads and Bridges
FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program grants may be used to repair disaster-damaged privately owned access roads and bridges. To qualify, the survivor must meet all the basic eligibility criteria for the Individuals and Households Program. They must also be the homeowner and the home must serve as the primary residence.
A FEMA inspection is necessary to determine if repairs are necessary for a vehicle to access the property. In addition, the applicant must meet at least one of the following conditions:
o The road and/or bridge is the only access to the property.
o No one can access the home due to damaged infrastructure.
o The safety of the occupants could be adversely affected because emergency services vehicles, such as an ambulance or a fire truck, cannot reach the residence. However, this will only be considered if access was available before the disaster occurred.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance
Rhode Islanders who became unemployed, including those who are self-employed, as a result of the December and January storms may now apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance. This assistance is funded by FEMA and administered by the state. To apply, go to RI DLT or call the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training at 401-415-6772. Applications for DUA benefits will be accepted through May 31, 2024.
FEMA Assistance Won’t Affect Other Benefits
FEMA assistance is not taxable and will not affect eligibility for other federal programs, such as Social Security,
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
SBA disaster loans are the largest source of federal disaster recovery funds for survivors. Businesses, homeowners, renters and certain nonprofits that were affected may apply online for low- interest disaster loans at lending.sba.gov. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or email [email protected] for more information. Individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing may call 800-877-8339.
Myths vs. Facts Regarding FEMA Disaster Assistance
For a list of common myths about disaster assistance, visit Myths vs. Facts Regarding FEMA Disaster Assistance | FEMA.gov. A good guideline: apply, even if you’re unsure you’ll be eligible.
Group Flood Insurance Policies
If flooding damaged your property, you may be eligible to receive flood insurance through a Group Flood Insurance Policy from the National Flood Insurance Program.
FEMA pays the cost of the policy from your disaster assistance funding, with no out-of-pocket cost to you.
These policies provide up to three years of coverage, and during that time, will satisfy the legal requirement to maintain flood insurance after receiving disaster assistance.
This requirement will continue even after the group policy expires.
For more information, call the National Flood Insurance Program at 800-638-6620, option number 2, or visit FloodSmart.gov.
For the latest information visit 4765 | FEMA.gov or 4766 | FEMA.gov. Follow FEMA on X, formerly known as Twitter, at twitter.com/femaregion1 and at facebook.com/fema.
For updates on the Rhode Island response and recovery, follow the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency on Twitter at twitter.com/RhodeIslandEMA, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandEMA, or visit www.riema.ri.gov.
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