AGRICULTURAL OPERATION ASSISTANCE

On April 3, 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture granted a Secretarial disaster designation for the primary counties of Calaveras, Kern, Los Angeles, Mariposa, Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz, Tulare, and Tuolumne and the contiguous counties of Alpine, Amador, Fresno, Inyo, Kings, Madera, Merced, Mono, Orange, San Bernardino, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Stanislaus, and Ventura due to agricultural losses caused by the Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides beginning February 21, 2023 and continuing.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is offering Disaster Assistance to Farmers and Livestock Producers in California who have been impacted by recent floods. For more information on the various programs available visit the resource section below, or  www.usda.gov.

Resources:
Disaster Assistance Programs at a Glance
Single Family Housing Rural Disaster Home Repair Grants
Emergency Conservation Program
Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants
Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant
Disaster Assistance for Rural Communities Act

USDA RURAL HOME REPAIR GRANT PROGRAM

The Rural Disaster Home Repair Grant has $55.7 million available nationwide until expended. Maximum grant of $40,675. We urge homeowners to APPLY as soon as possible! Location and income limits apply. To check your location for eligibility, search your address with the Property Eligibility Map.  Areas in tan are NOT eligible.  For information on income requirements, consult the USDA Direct Limit Map.

STORM RECOVERY ASSISTANCE

Applications for Individual Assistance were due March 16, 2023.

The January storms resulted in widespread damage across Ventura County, resulting in a Major Disaster Declaration, which allowed area residents, non-profit organizations and businesses access to federal assistance for recovery efforts. The assistance covers damage sustained between Dec. 27, 2022 through Jan. 31, 2023.

Apply for Assistance Online or Over the Phone

REGISTER TO RECEIVE RECOVERY EMAIL UPDATES

FEDERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

FEMA Individual Assistance

Individual Assistance may cover expenses for temporary housing and home repairs, cleanup and other expenses.  Eligibility for this program is determined on an individual basis and assistance is provided in the form of grants that do not require repayment.

The following types of assistance may be available under the FEMA Individual Assistance Program:

  • Funds for temporary housing or a temporary housing unit while you are unable to live in your home
  • Funds to support the repair or replacement of an owner-occupied primary residence and associated infrastructure
  • Funds for other under-insured or uninsured expenses and serious needs

FEMA disaster grants are not taxable income. Accepting a FEMA grant will not affect eligibility for Social Security (SSI/SSDI), Medicare, Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and other federal welfare and entitlement programs.

Understanding Your FEMA Letter

California residents who applied for assistance from FEMA for the recent severe storms and flooding will receive a determination letter from FEMA. It may say you are ineligible for assistance, but that is not a denial. Applicants are given a reason for the ineligibility and told what they need to do to appeal the decision. Often, they need only send more information. The most important part of the appeal process is knowing your deadlines. You have 60 days from the date of your FEMA determination letter to appeal the decision.

Resources:

To apply for assistance call 1-800-621-3362.  If you use video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA your number for that service. Helpline operators are available from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Press 2 for Spanish. Press 3 for an interpreter who speaks your language.  To apply online, click the link below:

APPLY FOR INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE HERE

Small Business Administration Assistance

CA-17757 SBA Fact Sheet Amendment 8 is the Declaration for the SEVERE WINTER STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES & MUDSLIDES that occurred December 27, 2022, through January 31, 2023.

Application Filing Deadlines:
Physical Damage: March 16, 2023
Economic Injury: October 16, 2023

CA-17842 SBA Fact Sheet Amendment 5 is the Declaration for the SEVERE WINTER STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES & MUDSLIDES that began occurring February 21, 2023, and continuing.  Ventura County qualifies only for the Economic Injury.

Application Filing Deadlines:
Physical Damage: July 20, 2023
Economic Injury: January 3, 2024

SBA offers federal low-interest disaster loans to businesses of all sizes, most private nonprofit organizations, homeowners, and renters.

  • Businesses of any size may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster damaged property.
  • Small businesses, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster.
  • Homeowners may borrow up to $200,000 to repair or replace their disaster damaged primary residence, or
  • Homeowners and renters may borrow up to $40,000 to replace disaster damaged personal property, including vehicles.

Disaster Legal Services Available to homeowners and renters in disaster-designated counties affected by recent severe winter storms. Call the Disaster Legal Services hotline at 888-382-3406 or go to freelegalanswers.org

Resources:
Three Ways to Apply
CA 17842 Fact Sheet Presidential-Amendment 5
CA_17757_Fact_Sheet_Amendment-8_Presidential
Disaster Legal Services Available to California Residents After the Recent Storms and Flooding
U.S. Small Business Administration Fact Sheet – Disaster Loans
Resources for Businesses

To apply for assistance call 1-800-659-2955 or click the link below

APPLY FOR A SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

STATE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

State Supplemental Grant Program (SSGP)

The SSGP provides funds to assist people who have suffered damage from a declared disaster. (“Declared” means the President has issued a Major Disaster declaration that allows the implementation of individual assistance programs.) The maximum grant amount a survivor can be awarded is $10,000. The SSGP is administered by the State of California Department of Social Services. For more information, please visit Disaster Assistance (ca.gov) or call  800-759-6807 (TDD: 800-952-8349) or email: SSGP@dss.ca.gov

Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA)

DUA is a federal program that provides financial assistance to jobless workers and the self-employed when they are unemployed as a direct result of a major natural disaster. The DUA is administered by the Employment Development Department (EDD). To apply, call 800-300-5616 or visit www.edd.ca.gov.

EDD for Sole Proprietors

EMERGENCY REPAIR WORK

If your property requires any type of significant grading work to stabilize or repair damage done by the last storm, please review the following informational handout information and regulations surrounding emergency flood repairs.  Download the guide here.

TAX EXTENSION/RELIEF

CALIFORNIA STATE TAX EXTENSION

To help alleviate some of the hardship many have endured during this trying period, the FTB has extended the filing and payment deadlines for individuals and businesses in California until October 16, 2023.  For more information, visit www.ca.gov. 

PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR DAMAGED PROPERTY

Property tax relief may be available to Ventura County property owners whose property sustained more than $10,000 in damage from the January 9-10, 2023 storms. For additional information on program eligibility, please visit the Ventura County Assessor’s Office. To file a claim, complete the Calamity Application Form and return it to the Ventura County Assessor’s Office by email: assessor.disaster@ventura.org. Claims must be filed within twelve months of the date of damage.