FEMA's Disaster Sequence of Events
What we need to assist more disaster victims is this flowchart for Federal Assistance. FEMA to HUD SBA Flowchart for a more balanced recovery process based on ability to take additional household debt.
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By Murray Wennerlund published 4-27-2021 updated 4-27-2021
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FEMA's Disaster Sequence of Events
  1. FEMA tells you that your household needs to apply for IA and IHP grants.
  2. FEMA sends damage determination letter called FEMA Verified Loss (FVL).
  3. FEMA tells you to to apply to the SBA Disaster Loan program if you would like to continue with your disaster recovery.
    • FEMA may tell you that you must apply with the SBA and if declined by the SBA agency you will be referred back to FEMA for additional federal resources.
    • It is very rare this will ever happen and if it does you can expect maybe $7,000 or less in ONA (Other Needs Assistance) grants.
    • SBA will approve a loan for your household based on total income of $18,090 net per year.
    • SBA will approve your household if you have a credit score of 350 or more.
    • SBA will count all persons 15 years of age and older making a taxable income as part of the household income.
    • SBA will approve your loan based on the amount of insurance you have related to the disaster. Example: $150,000 in Flood insurance the SBA will lend that homeowner regardless of income or credit scores up to the maximum payout of the insurance policy.
    • SBA will approve your loan based on the collateral that was damaged and at pre-flood.
    • You're not told about HUD CDGB-DR grants that you may have been qualified for if you didn't apply to the SBA disaster Loan Program.
    • You're not told that Grants are awarded based on household income levels.
    • You're not told that if your household income is less than 80% AMI you will receive HUD CDBG-DR grants when they become available in about 12 months from the disaster month.
    • You're not told that if you take an SBA Disaster Loan that amount of the loan you are approved for will be counted as Duplication of Benefits against any future federal assistance even if you do not draw the full loan mount.
  4. FEMA's Flowchart on Federal Assistance Delivery Sequence.
  5. Our updated based on real world input to FEMA's flowchart on Federal Assistance - Delivery Sequence.
  6. What we need to assist more disaster victims is this flowchart for Federal Assistance. FEMA to HUD / SBA Flowchart for a more balanced recovery process based on ability to take additional household debt.
  7. Apply for FEMA assistance at: Disaster Assistance .Gov