Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

listen live donate
listen live donate
listen live
donate
  • News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
    News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
    Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
  • Podcasts & Shows
  • Schedules
  • Events
  • Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
    Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 

Does The Government Help Pay To Rebuild Homes Burned Down By Wildfires? Barely.

  •  Ben Adler 
Monday, July 30, 2018 | Sacramento, CA
Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio

A home destroyed by the Carr Fire in Redding.

Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio

As California lawmakers and Gov. Jerry Brown debate who should pay for the billions of dollars in wildfire damages, residents might wonder how much government help is available to rebuild their homes.

The answer? Not much.

When the president approves a Major Disaster Declaration for a California wildfire — and federal funding starts flowing into the state — there are two kinds of help.

There is public assistance, to fight the fire and rebuild public roads and buildings. And sometimes there is also individual assistance.

“That money that’s available to individuals is limited, because it’s a federal grant program and we definitely cannot make people whole,” says Brandi Richard with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The maximum available assistance for an individual from a FEMA grant? Approximately $32,000. And there are no state grants, according to the California Office of Emergency Services.

You can spend the federal individual assistance money to repair or replace a damaged or destroyed home, vehicle or other property, or it can go toward short-term living expenses until you can return home, such as a hotel room or apartment rental.

But even that has a catch: FEMA individual grants can only be used for a purpose not already covered by another government agency or your insurance.

“Let’s say your home was damaged and you’re receiving assistance to repair your home for the same damages that we’ve given you money for, we can’t do that,” Richard says. “That’s not a good use of taxpayer dollars.”

On Friday, Gov. Jerry Brown requested a Presidential Emergency Declaration for Direct Federal Assistance to help the state battle the deadly Carr Fire near Redding. President Trump and FEMA granted that request on Saturday.

“This federal assistance includes air assets to mitigate the impacts of this fire, shelter supplies and water for evacuated residents, and support with mass care, ambulatory transport and the evacuation of individuals with access and functional needs as well as large animals,” Brown’s office said in a press release.

A request for individual assistance from the federal government was not included but could come later.


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  
Was this story useful?
yes
no

Will you help us improve our fires coverage? Head to our wildfire survey page to tell us what you think.

    More about wildfire

  • Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

    California Wildfires: Latest Updates

    CapRadio provides the latest information and updates on wildfires hitting the state, and resources for listeners to help prepare, follow and respond to fire.

    Related Stories

  • Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio

    How You Can Help Victims Of The Carr Fire

    Wednesday, August 1, 2018
    Tens of thousands of people have been forced to evacuate their homes in Shasta County due to the Carr Fire burning near Redding. Here’s what you can do to help them.
  • Bert Johnson / Capital Public Radio

    Hope Grows As Deadly Carr Fire Slows Down

    Sunday, July 29, 2018
    Fire officials say crews have stopped some of the growth of the Shasta County blaze that has killed six people and destroyed more than 500 buildings.
  • Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio

    Who Should Pay For California’s Wildfire Damages? Gov. Jerry Brown, Lawmakers Debate Multibillion-Dollar Liabilities.

    Tuesday, July 24, 2018
    As wildfires increasingly scorch California year-after-year, state lawmakers and Gov. Jerry Brown are debating who should be liable.

 wildfire

Ben Adler

Director of Programming and Audience Development

Director of Programming and Audience Development Ben Adler first became a public radio listener in the car on his way to preschool — though not necessarily by choice.  Read Full Bio 

More Stories

AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File

Prop. 8 remains on the books 15 years later. California’s LGBTQ+ lawmakers want to repeal it.

June 5, 2023

Alex Wong / Getty Images

Live updates: Trump faces 37 federal counts in the grand jury's indictment

June 9, 2023

Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

Constitutional scholar calls Newsom’s proposed amendment a ‘symbolic gesture’

June 8, 2023

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    •  
      (916) 278-8900
    •  
      (877) 480-5900
    •  Contact / Feedback
    •  Submit a Tip / Story Idea
  • About

    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Stations & Coverage Map
    • Careers & Internships
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
    • Press
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile Apps
    • Smart Speakers
    • Podcasts & Shows
    • On-Air Schedules
    • Daily Playlist
    • Signal Status
  • Connect

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen Live

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2023, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.