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The Challenge of Paying Back FEMA Funds You Already Received

There can be no double-dipping of disaster recovery funding.

Continuing in the news is this significant item of the California fires, see link shared by Claire Rubin, see: The Energy 202: Why FEMA is fighting for money set aside for California fire victims. 

It may sound very technical to the average person who lost all their worldly belongings in the 2017 California fires. The bottom line is that you cannot be paid for the same loss by two different parties. That would be 'double-dipping.'

Congressmen may complain about FEMA's procedures, but the agency is following the laws that Congress passed--to do otherwise would be illegal. I've been around these matters in the past. What happens is that citizens and property owners start contacting every elected official they can--to complain. Congresspeople, to show they are 'engaged' and supportive, send letters to the appropriate federal agency and ask for explanations. When the answer that comes back is--'We are following the law' the congressperson asks if there is any flexibility in the ruling? The above story then evolves to public statements that show the Congresspeople are outraged and 'fighting for their constituents.' 

Here some "facts" to help you sort through these issues: 

 See the copies of Tweets from Jerry Quinn, Disaster Badger, who is an expert in these matters.  

Congress waived pre-disaster conditions for Puerto Rico Hurricanes. Only Congress can initiate waiver legislation of long-standing subrogation requirement. https://twitter.com/disasterbadger/status/1218577865064665088

Required by Law. Grant Applicants already agreed to return DoBs. Why FEMA is fighting for money set aside for California fire victims https://washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/the-energy-202/2020/01/16/the-energy-202-why-fema-is-fighting-for-money-set-aside-for-california-fire-victims/5e1f3dac88e0fa2262dcde4c/?tid=ss_tw

California wildfire survivors who applied for and received Individual Assistance grants contractually obligated themselves to voluntarily return duplicated benefits. Total IA for 5 declared fires $133 million. Only a portion potentially DoB. Rebuild settlement $$ not touched.

Eric Holdeman is a contributing writer for Emergency Management magazine and is the former director of the King County, Wash., Office of Emergency Management.