Three months after the devastating July 4 floods in Kerr County , about one-fifth of applicants for federal disaster assistance have been deemed eligible to get financial help so far, leaving hundreds without governmental aid.
As of Oct. 11, Federal Emergency Management Agency officials had referred only 46% (1,749 of 3,228) of Kerr County applications for its Individuals and Households Program to the next stage, and among those that were reviewed for specific funding, only 22% (704) were deemed eligible.
After a disaster, FEMA money is meant to help cover costs for hotels or rent, making homes livable, and medical and transportation needs. But FEMA no longer sends people knocking door-todoor to tell flood victims how they can sign up for help and answer questions on what is needed to apply, plus it now requires an email address for people to apply which not everyone has.
FEMA’s application process is often reported to be difficult, especially for lowincome and vulnerable populations, due to complex documentation requirements, inconsistencies, and other administrative burdens.
To receive assistance, applicants must prove their identity, U.S. citizenship or qualified alien status, and that the damaged property was their primary residence at the time of the disaster. Many disaster survivors, particularly those with low incomes, lose critical documents during the disaster, making it nearly impossible to prove eligibility.
Another factor is that FEMA cannot duplicate benefits received from other sources, including insurance. This means that if an applicant is waiting for an insurance claim to be settled, FEMA may deny assistance. While FEMA can be appealed later if the settlement is insufficient, the wait creates additional burdens and delays recovery.
The approval rate for individual assistance dropped from 63% in 2010 to around 13% in 2021. Many denials do not provide a clear reason, and the administrative burden of filing an appeal is often too much for survivors to take on. This is especially true for marginalized communities who are denied at higher rates and typically receive less funding.
These issues can create significant barriers for survivors of natural disasters who have just experienced a traumatic event. And on top of the already hard process, the agency currently is not fully operational due to the federal government shutdown.