V.D. Multiple Disasters

When multiple disasters occur in the same location, and the applicant has not recovered from the first disaster at the time of a second disaster, the assistance provided in response to the second disaster may duplicate assistance for the same purpose and need as assistance provided after the first disaster.

HUD recognizes that in this scenario, DOB calculations can be complicated. Damage from a second disaster, for example, may destroy work funded and completed in response to the first disaster. The second disaster may also damage or destroy receipts and other documentation of how applicants expended assistance provided after the first disaster.

Therefore, HUD is adopting the following policy that is applicable to circumstances when two disasters occur in the same area, and the applicant has not fully recovered from the first disaster before the second disaster occurs: Applicants are not required to maintain documentation related to the use of public disaster assistance (Federal, State, and local) beyond the period required by the agency that provided the assistance. If documentation cannot be provided, the grantee may accept a self-certification regarding how the applicant used the other agency's assistance, provided that the applicant is advised of the criminal and civil penalties that apply in cases of false claims and fraud, and the grantee determines that the applicant's total need is consistent with data the grantee has about the nature of damage caused by the disasters (e.g., flood inundation levels). For example, a second disaster strikes three years after an agency provided assistance in response to the first disaster, and that agency required applicants to maintain documentation for two years, the grantee may accept a self-certification regarding how the applicant used the other agency's assistance.

Applicants must continue to follow all requirements to obtain and maintain flood insurance as a condition of receiving Federal flood disaster assistance. No Federal disaster relief assistance made available in a flood disaster area may be used to make a payment to a person for repair, replacement, or restoration for damage to any personal, residential, or commercial property if that person at any time has received flood disaster assistance that was conditional on the person first having obtained flood insurance under applicable Federal law and subsequently having failed to obtain and maintain flood insurance as required under applicable Federal law on such property. See 42 U.S.C. 5154a.

Research Resources:

• FR-2019-06-20

Terms:

• Grantee = State Managing HUD CDBG-DR funds
• Aggregate amount = Total Dollar Amount
• Subsidized loans = SBA loans