Individual Assistance FEMA Grants may be used to repair private roads

FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program Grants may be used to repair disaster-damaged privately-owned access roads and bridges. To qualify, the survivor must meet all the basic eligibility criteria outlined for the Individuals and Households Program. The survivor must also be the homeowner and the home must serve as the primary residence.

A FEMA inspection is necessary to determine if repairs are necessary for a vehicle to access the property. In addition, the applicant must meet at least one of the following conditions:

• No one can access the home due to damaged infrastructure

• The safety of the occupants could be adversely affected because emergency services vehicles, such as an ambulance or a fire truck, cannot reach the residence. However, this will only be considered if access was available before the disaster occurred.

When multiple households share a privately-owned access route, assistance is shared among applicants, requiring additional coordination and documentation between FEMA and each applicant.

We at the Town are working hard to recover and rebuild our resilient community. We are excited about the new projects happening in 2023, including the installation of the Early Warning System (sirens) in spring 2023, the repaving of 10 miles of public roads and the completion of the downtown Almond Street project with sidewalks, lighting, and landscaping. In addition, since 2019 our growing population of nearly 10,000 residents has rebuilt over 2,500 housing units.

Paradise is a special place. As a resident for more than 50 years, I’m proud to call Paradise my home. I hope you also find Paradise to be all its name implies.