Almost $2 million Approved for Federal Disaster Assistance for Rhode Islanders Affected by September Storms

A little over 30 days after President Joe Biden declared a major disaster for the state of Rhode Island for the severe storms, flooding and tornado winds that occurred Sept. 10-13, 2023, $1,929,949 in federal assistance has been provided by FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to support the state’s recovery. 

Homeowners and renters in Providence County whose homes and property were damaged by the storms have until March 7, 2024 to apply.

As of today, Rhode Island’s recovery assistance includes:

•  $1,635,459 in FEMA’s Individual and Households Program grants awarded to 364 eligible homeowners and renters to pay for uninsured storm-related losses, including:
  • $1,548,638 in FEMA housing grants to help pay for home repair, home replacement and rental assistance for temporary housing.
  • $86,821 in Other Needs Assistance grants to help pay for personal property replacement and other serious storm-related needs such as moving and storage fees, transportation, childcare, and medical and dental expenses.
• The SBA has approved more than $294.500 for eight long-term, low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and nonprofit organizations to repair, rebuild or replace disaster-damaged physical property and cover economic injury.

Disaster Recovery Centers 

The Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency and FEMA have staffed and operated two Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in Providence County to provide one-on-one assistance to survivors. Over 200 survivors have visited these centers.  

Recovery specialists at the DRCs from the state, FEMA, and SBA provide information on available services, explain assistance programs, and help survivors complete or check the status of their applications for assistance. No appointment is necessary to visit – walk-ins are welcome. Centers are Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 6 30 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday- CLOSED.

To find a center that may be convenient to visit check with FEMA’s DRC Locator online.

Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams

FEMA has sent Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) teams to storm-affected neighborhoods in every designated county. These teams travel door-to-door, visiting homes, businesses, and nonprofit organizations to help residents apply, identify and address immediate and emerging needs, and make referrals to other local, state and voluntary agencies for additional support. DSA personnel have interacted with more than 2,600  residents and visited more than 9.000 households and 857 businesses to help survivors apply for assistance.

Those affected by the storms from Sept. 10-13, 2023 can apply for FEMA assistance by calling  1-800-621-3362 , downloading the FEMA Mobile App or going online at DisasterAssistance.gov, If you use video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA your number for that service. Phone lines operate from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week, with language translation services available. 

U.S. Small Business Administration 

FEMA often refers disaster survivors to SBA to apply for a low-interest disaster loan. 

SBA disaster loans are the largest source of federal disaster recovery funds for survivors. SBA offers long-term, low-interest disaster loans to businesses, private nonprofits, homeowners and renters to help them build back better, stronger and more resilient.

Homeowners are eligible for disaster loans up to $500,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate.

Businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. 

If you are referred to SBA, you are not required to take out a loan but you if you don’t fill out the application, you may not be eligible for certain FEMA grants. 

Applicants may apply online at SBA.gov/disaster . Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance.

For an accessible video on how to apply for assistance go to, youtube.com/watch?v= WZGpWI2RCNw.