This past week, FEMA announced major changes to help San Joaquin flood victims get the help they need next time a disaster strikes. Representative Josh Harder (CA-9) earlier called on officials to fix FEMA’s outdated process that left hundreds of San Joaquin families without enough help following flooding last year.

Last February, Rep. Harder called on FEMA to cut unnecessary red tape and make changes to its disaster assistance program to get families help as quickly as possible the next time a disaster occurs.

“After last year’s heavy rain and flooding, we had to fight tooth and nail to get San Joaquin families the help they needed. It’s completely unacceptable that red tape prevented a lot of people from accessing that help,” said Rep. Harder. “When a natural disaster hits and your couch is floating in your kitchen, it’s terrifying. Families should be able to focus on keeping their loved ones safe and trust that FEMA will get them the help they need. I’m glad FEMA made the changes we requested so next time our families won’t have to jump through these terrible hoops.”

Specifically, the updates FEMA made in response to Harder’s calls for change include:

Streamlining FEMA Individual Assistance Process

Removing Loan Application Requirements – Previously, survivors were required to apply for a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loan before being offered certain types of FEMA assistance. This created major confusion and problems for San Joaquin County residents. FEMA’s change aims to reduce confusion about the process and make sure survivors aren’t pushed to apply for loans they don’t want.

Making it Easier to Secure Housing Assistance

Streamlining Temporary Housing Assistance Applications – San Joaquin County families were required to provide extensive documentation to keep their temporary housing. FEMA is reducing the requirements for applicants seeking continued temporary housing assistance.

Establishing Displacement Assistance – This is a new benefit designed for survivors who cannot return to their homes following a disaster and provides them with greater flexibility in making the best decision for their immediate housing needs. This assistance will provide eligible survivors with up-front funds to assist with immediate housing options of their choice.

Expanding “Habitability” Criteria – Last year, many residents who had existing problems with their homes were denied assistance, making their situation even more dangerous and difficult. FEMA is broadening its definition of “habitability” to extend eligibility to include repairs to homes with pre-existing conditions making families whole after a disaster.