other needs assistance (ona)

The purpose of the FEMA Individuals and Households Program (IHP) is to help your household be safely housed and to cover necessary expenses and serious needs following the effects of a Presidentially declared major disaster. This fact sheet outlines the various forms of IHP assistance available from FEMA and explains the general conditions and limitations of this assistance. To be initially considered for any type of FEMA IHP assistance, the affected home must be your primary residence, the home must be located in the declared disaster area, your necessary expense or serious need must have occurred in the declared disaster area, and you (or an adult household member) must be a United States citizen, a non-citizen national, or a qualified alien.

Types of FEMA IHP Assistance

• Housing Assistance (includes Temporary Housing, Repair, Replacement, and Permanent Housing Construction); and
• Other Needs Assistance (includes personal property, medical, dental, funeral, and other items).

Other Needs Assistance (ONA)

(1) Personal Property: Money to repair or replace damaged and destroyed personal property as a result of the disaster that is not covered by insurance. The goal is help with the cost for the necessary expenses and serious needs. All applicants must apply for an SBA disaster loan for personal property before being considered for ONA. FEMA will not pay for all damaged or destroyed personal property. Flood insurance may be required if the home is in a Special Flood Hazard Area. Repair and replacement of personal property include:

• Clothing
• Household items (room furnishings, appliances)
• Specialized tools or protective clothing and equipment required for your job
• Necessary educational materials (computers, school books, supplies)
• Clean-up items (wet/dry vacuum, air purifier, dehumidifier)

(2) Transportation: This money is intended to pay for the repair and/or replacement of an individual's primary means of transportation that is no longer usable because of disaster-related damage or for the increased cost of using public transportation.

(3) Medical and Dental expenses: This money is intended for an individual's medical and/or dental treatment costs or the purchase of medical equipment required because of physical injuries received as a result of the disaster.

(4) Funeral and Burial costs: This money is intended for the individual to pay for funeral services, burial or cremation, and other funeral expenses related to a death caused by the disaster.

(5) Other Items: This money is intended for specific disaster-related costs that FEMA approves that are not listed above, and generally will include:

• Fuel (fuel, chain saw, firewood)
• Moving and storage expenses related to the disaster
• Other necessary expenses or serious needs (e.g., towing, or setup or connecting essential utilities for a housing unit not provided by FEMA)
• The cost of a National Flood Insurance Program Group Flood Insurance Policy

Contact
For additional information regarding the Recovery Program, please contact us for your area of interest.