Resources

Tips for Understanding FEMA Individual Assistance Funding

  FEMA provides funding to individuals and households following a major disaster in the form of housing assistance and funding for other disaster-caused expenses. Receiving these funds can help you recover following a disaster. However, it is important to understand how the program works. First, review eligibility requirements. To be eligible for funds, all of… Read more

Tips for Construction Contractors: Working with CDBG-DR Homeowner Applicants

  Unlike typical construction projects, performing disaster recovery work under HUD’s Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program comes with scope of work, time and funding constraints in order to maintain program compliance. Be sure you and your subcontractors have a clear understanding of CDBG-DR program requirements prior to communicating with homeowner applicants or… Read more

Tips: Managing the Appeals Process

  Homeowner appeals during the recovery process are inevitable and time-consuming, they should be a last resort for applicants. IBTS has processed close to 2,500 homes for programs receiving funding from the the HUD’s Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program, and been able to mitigate nearly all homeowner appeals — saving the locality and the applicant valuable… Read more

Experiences Gained: Using FEMA’s Debris Removal Alternative Procedures

  Without a comprehensive debris management plan, the debris removal process can escalate into one of the most difficult and expensive response tasks after a natural disaster. To reduce costs and accelerate the process, FEMA introduced debris removal alternative procedures. Yet despite cost benefits and incentives for quicker debris removal, few localities have taken advantage… Read more

Experiences Gained: Using FEMA’s Debris Removal Alternative Procedures

  Without a comprehensive debris management plan, the debris removal process can escalate into one of the most difficult and expensive response tasks after a natural disaster. The first step in a long road to recovery, a quick debris removal can set the tone for the entire recovery process and build the community’s confidence in… Read more

Experiences Gained: Using FEMA’s Debris Removal Alternative Procedures

  Without a comprehensive debris management plan, the debris removal process can escalate into one of the most difficult and expensive response tasks after a natural disaster. To reduce costs and accelerate the process, FEMA introduced debris removal alternative procedures. Yet despite cost benefits and incentives for quicker debris removal, few localities have taken advantage… Read more

Tips for Project Managers: Be Prepared for Homeowner Applicant Appeals

  Homeowner appeals during the recovery process are inevitable, but project managers can take preventative measures and work with case managers to reduce the number of applicant appeals — saving the applicant, project manager and agency administrating the program a significant amount of time and stress. IBTS has processed close to 2,500 homes for programs receiving… Read more

Tips for Case Managers: Managing the Applicant Appeals Process

  Although homeowner appeals during the recovery process are inevitable, case managers can take preventative measures to prevent applicants from taking their appeals to grantee. This can save applicants, case managers and program administrators time and hassle. IBTS has processed close to 2,500 homes for programs receiving funding from the the ’s  program, and been… Read more

Construction Appeals Tips for Homeowner Applicants

If you are receiving assistance for the reconstruction, rehabilitation, elevation, or mitigation of your home after a disaster, you may be allowed to submit an appeal prior to construction to broaden the scope of work or request changes to construction material. IBTS has processed close to 2,500 homes for programs receiving funding from the the… Read more

FEMA Debris Removal Alternative Procedures: The Basics

  State and local officials responsible for disaster planning and management should always keep abreast of changes in the Stafford Act, especially those related to reimbursement. Debris removal, for example, is one of the most expensive operations in a disaster recovery effort. To keep costs down, FEMA introduced four new alternative procedure pilot projects that… Read more