City Of Berkeley News - February 10, 2023

Government and Politics

February 11, 2023

News from the City of Berkeley

Federal grants, loans available to those affected by January storms

Homeowners, renters, businesses, and nonprofits can apply by March 16 for up to $37,900 in grants to cover property damage and a similar amount for other needs not covered by insurance. Small Business Administration loans can also help cover costs.

Berkeley homeowners, renters, and businesses can apply for federal funding to help pay for essential repairs or serious disaster-related needs resulting from the January storms that were not covered by insurance. Apply by phone, online, using an app, or in person. Serious disaster-related needs include medical and dental expenses, transportation, childcare, and moving and storage expenses.

These FEMA grants apply to those eligible Berkeleyans who had storm-related property damage between Dec. 31, 2022 to Jan. 30, 2023. Those who apply will be considered for two types of grants:

- up to $37,900 for property damages to a primary residence.

- up to $37,900 for other needs, such as a hotel stay while displaced, funds to replace damaged items, and increases to childcare or medical expenses during the disaster.

Loans for storm relief are also available to homeowners, renters, and businesses through the federal Small Business Administration. These loans can be paid off over thirty years and can have interest limits as low as 4 percent, depending on access to alternative credit. The loan types include:

- Homeowners: Up to $200,000 to repair or replace a primary residence

- Renters/Homeowners: Up to $40,000 to replace or repair personal property, like clothing, furniture, cars, or appliances

- Businesses: Up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations or operating expenses that would have been avoided had the disaster not happened.

Often, flood damages aren’t covered by typical homeowner’s insurance, so these can be very costly repairs. See if the grants and loans can help you and your household.

People can apply for the FEMA grants online, by phone (1-800-621-3362), via app, or at a disaster assistance center. To apply for a Small Business Administration loan, see their disaster loan website, their application portal, and a factsheet about their loan products.

Applicants must meet eligibility guidelines

In general, applicants for the FEMA grants must meet all of the following conditions to qualify:

- You or someone who lives with you is a U.S. citizen, a non-citizen national, or a qualified alien. If you have questions about FEMA’s citizenship and immigration requirements, please visit their website.

- You pass FEMA’s identity and occupancy verification if it applies to you.

- You have no insurance –or– have filed an insurance claim, but it does not cover all of your losses.

- You have serious needs or expenses due to losses in a Presidentially declared disaster area.

Alameda County was recently added to the major disaster declaration for California’s severe storms and flooding. The declaration allows FEMA and the Small Business Administration to provide direct support to individuals, households, nonprofits, and businesses in Alameda County and other counties in California.

FEMA Disaster assistance helps cover uninsured or under-insured expenses

Disaster assistance may include grants to help pay for temporary housing and essential home repairs as well as other serious disaster-related needs such as medical and dental expenses, transportation, childcare, and moving and storage expenses.

If you have insurance, first file a claim with your insurance provider. FEMA provides assistance to applicants for your uninsured or underinsured disaster-caused expenses and serious needs. Applying does not guarantee that assistance will be awarded.

Learn more about applying

There are several ways you can apply for FEMA assistance under the Individual Assistance program:

- Online

- FEMA mobile app (Google Play and iOS)

- Phone: 1 (800) 621-3362

- In person:

Oakland Disaster Recovery Center
7001 Oakport Street, Oakland, CA 94566

Dublin Disaster Recovery Center
4825 Gleeson Drive, Dublin, CA 94568

Open February 10 until February 24, 2023, 10 am to 7pm daily.

Keep track of deadlines and apply as soon as you are able to meet the March 16 FEMA deadline.

Links

DisasterAssistance.gov (FEMA)

U.S. Small Business Administration Disaster Loans (SBA)

Informational flyer about FEMA Disaster Assistance (FEMA)

FEMA disaster page for 2023 California Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (FEMA)

I Applied for Disaster Assistance, What’s Next? (FEMA)

2023 California Storms – Insurance Claim and Recovery Help (United Policy Holders, 501(c)(3))

Plan ahead for summer overnight camps for families, youth, and adults

Escape to the Sierra Nevada mountains with the City of Berkeley this summer: we have overnight camps for youth, families, and seniors.

You can swim in a lake, hike in the forest, enjoy meals cooked for you, or let your children explore the wonders of the High Sierra with camp counselors. The cost is low. The reward is high.

When you join us with family and friends at either Echo Lake (near South Lake Tahoe) or Tuolumne Camp (near Yosemite), you can participate in traditions shared by generations of Berkeleyans or create new ones of your own.

Registration began on February 2 and opens in phases. Scholarships are available to Berkeley residents for 50% to 100% of the cost. Use the online registration portal to view detailed information about sessions and prices.

Read more at berkeleyca.gov.

City run vaccine clinics

Saturday February 11, 18, & 25

Francis Albrier Community Center at San Pablo Park
2800 Park Street
Berkeley, CA 94702
Registration and appointment link

See more planned vaccine clinics.

Artists, festivals, arts organizations invited to apply for grants by March 2023

Artists, festivals, and arts organizations can apply for one-time grants of up to $4,000, $7,000, and $10,000, respectively, and use one of our webinars to help answer any questions.

The grants support individual artists creating new work, festivals creating an event that’s open to the public and has a free component, or arts organizations needing support for ongoing programming.

The separate webinars for each type of grant will cover guidelines, eligibility, and how to apply on the Submittable site, which requires you to create an account. You can also learn more about the grants on the artist, festival, or arts organization application portals.

Coordinated by our Civic Arts Program, these grants support a culturally vibrant and diverse arts ecosystem within the City of Berkeley by funding artists, festivals, and arts organizations.

Read more at berkeleyca.gov.

More news from the City of Berkeley

- Volunteers needed at senior centers, December 30, 2022

We're hiring! Featured jobs:

- Deputy Director of Finance, closes March 3, 2023

- Librarian I, closes March 10, 2023

- Mail Services Aide, closes February 27, 2023

See all open positions or learn more at berkeleyca.gov/jobs.

Upcoming City Events

- February 15, 7:00pm - 8:30pm: N. Berkeley BART Community Meeting (In-person)

- February 16, 7:00pm - 8:30pm: N. Berkeley BART Community Meeting (Virtual)

- February 18, 9:00am - 11:00am: Coastal Cleanup