Relocation Assistance Factsheet
Release Date: October 15, 2007
Release Number: FNF-07-072
Background
The damage and destruction caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita resulted in the temporary relocation of many residents of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Texas to various locations within and outside each respective state. In support of the Gulf Coast States impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, FEMA has determined that relocation costs are eligible disaster-related expenses and that financial assistance can be made available using the authorities of the Stafford Act.
Basic Eligibility - Eligible applicants for the Relocation Assistance Program must meet each of the following criteria:
- Applicant is registered and received disaster assistance through FEMA for damages resulting from Hurricane Katrina or Rita in Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas or Alabama;
- Applicant has not received $26.200, the maximum amount of financial assistance allowed by FEMA;
- Applicant has not already received relocation assistance from other governmental or non-governmental agency; and
- The relocation expenses were incurred or will incur between August 29, 2005, and February 29, 2008, for Hurricane Katrina, or September 24, 2005, to February 29, 2008, for Hurricane Rita.
Other Eligibility Criteria Relocation Assistance applicant must meet one of the following eligibility criteria:
- Applicant has moved or will move from a FEMA Travel Trailer or Mobile Home to FEMA funded housing or non-FEMA funded housing anywhere in the continental US.
- Applicant has or will be moving from housing paid for by FEMA to housing that is not paid for by FEMA. If the new address is in the same state, it must be more than 50 miles from the current physical address. The non-FEMA housing can not be a hotel or motel.
- Applicant has or will be relocating from non-FEMA funded housing to non-FEMA funded housing within their same state or to their home state. If the new address is in the same state, it must be more than 50 miles from where they are currently living. The non-FEMA Housing can not be a hotel or motel.
Eligible Costs
- $4000: Total allowable relocation costs
- Travel costs including airfare, train, bus and/or a rental vehicle.
- Furniture transportation expenses, including commercially rented equipment for hauling and commercially purchased moving materials or moving services including cost of liability insurance and taxes.
- Mileage, gas and taxes incurred while using commercially rented equipment.
- Lodging costs if the distance between the current residence and the new residence is more than 400 miles.
Non-Eligible Costs
- Moving costs for recreational or large luxury items such as boats or recreational vehicles are not eligible expenses under this program.
- Moving expenses for use of Privately Owned Vehicles (POV) are not eligible expenses.
For more information on FEMA's Relocation Assistance Program or to request reimbursement of relocation expenses, call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) (TTY: 1-800-462-7585).
Last Modified: Tuesday, 16-Oct-2007 16:24:31