EXCLUSIVE: Flood survivors get second chance at FEMA aid through new initiative

Thousands of South Carolina flood survivors who were deemed ineligible for federal disaster aid could get a second chance at assistance.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency for weeks has been taking another look through its nearly 97,000 applications statewide since the historic Oct. 4 flooding, spokesman Carl Henderson said.

The agency is searching its database for flood survivors who were originally deemed ineligible for FEMA aid and reaching out to the ones who have the potential to become eligible, he said. When there is just a small road block, such as missing paperwork, between the applicant and federal aid, FEMA will try to resolve the issue, Henderson said.

Through Dec. 13, the agency had uncovered more than $4.1 million in disaster assistance for more than 1,800 formerly ineligible applicants, FEMA spokesman Jim Homstad said. Updated numbers were not available Wednesday.

Henderson said FEMA has unrolled the initiative before, most recently in disasters in Mississippi, North Carolina and Florida.

“We took a look at this particular disaster and deemed that it would be best to look at each (applicant) individually,” Henderson said.

FEMA so far has approved about $77.4 million in aid for S.C. individuals and households. But less than 30 percent of FEMA applicants have received aid.

Applicants can be deemed ineligible for a variety of reasons, including an inability to verify ownership or occupancy, missing information or essential documents or ownership of flood insurance.

Some clear-cut cases will not change, Henderson said. Applicants hoping to receive federal funds to repair a secondary home still will be out of luck, as will applicants whose homes or property were not sufficiently damaged.

“Our goal is to make sure all of the applicants get all that they are eligible for,” Henderson said.

FEMA also is working to connect flood-affected residents to volunteer organizations that can provide other needs, Henderson said. A resident with a damaged roof might be connected with an organization that has volunteers who can put a tarp over the roof.

“If we can’t help them with FEMA assistance, at least we try to point them in the right direction with volunteer organizations who could help,” Henderson said.

FEMA applicants don’t need to take any additional action to be eligible for the initiative, and not every applicant will receive a phone call. But FEMA has encouraged applicants to appeal any denial letters they receive.

The deadline to apply for federal disaster assistance is Jan. 3 at midnight. Applicants have 60 days to appeal denial letters.

This story was originally published December 23, 2015 at 4:49 PM.