PEMA has made the DRAP available for renters and homeowners recovering from the April 11-12,2024 flooding in Western PA.
Those who meet DRAP grant criteria may receive a one-time grant of up to $10,000 per household to help assist with:
HOME REPAIRS: if you own your home. Covers losses caused directly by the disaster
TEMPORARY HOUSING: If you won or rent your home. Covers temporary lodging for household members and pets if you are unable to live in your home due to damage.
ESSENTIAL PERSONAL PROPERTY: If you own or rent your home. Money to help replace certain essential personal property damaged by the severe storm and flooding.
Is DRAP for You?
If you answer “YES” to all of the questions below, you may be able to get DRAP assistance:
Did you suffer damages from the flooding that occurred April 11 -12, 2024?
Did you live in one of the municipalities listed on the next page?
Is your household income (everyone who lives in the home) less than 500% of the
national poverty guidelines?
Do you currently receive income-based government assistance? If not, have you applied for an SBA Disaster Loan for this flooding event and been denied (due to an inability to repay or in adequate credit)? Deadline to apply for an SBA disaster loan is June 28, 2024.
Get Started!
• If you have insurance, file your loss with your insurance company now.
• If you currently receive government income-based assistance, learn how to apply for DRAP now: https://www.pema.pa.gov/Recovery/disaster-help , email PADRAP@pa.gov, or call 717-562-5771 with any questions
• If you do not currently receive government income- based assistance, apply for an SBA disaster loan: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance (PA-20003)
Municipalities included in the DRAP activation:
Check to see if you live in a municipality included in the DRAP activation for flooding that
occurred April 11-12, 2024.
- Allegheny County: Oakdale Borough, South Fayette Township
- Armstrong: South Buffalo Township
- Beaver County: Harmony Township, Hopewell Township
- Washington County: Canton Township, Chartiers Township, Houston Borough,
McDonald Borough, Union Township, City of Washington
Household Income Requirements
Find the number of everyone living in your household (left column) and check to see if the
total income (right column) is below the number listed.
DISASTER RECOVERY ASSISTANE PROGRAM (DRAP) FAQ
Do you have to own your home to be eligible to apply?
No. Eligibility is based on annual gross household income, regardless of whether the survivor owns or rents their home. However, grants for home repairs are only available to homeowners.
What is a household?
A household is an individual or group living together at one mailing address. If multiple families live at one mailing address, that is considered one household.
What is annual household income?
Annual household income is the combined gross income of all members of the household in the preceding calendar year.
What is gross income?
Gross income is the total amount of money earned in a year before any taxes, healthcare, payroll or deductions are taken out.
Gross income is different from net income. Net income is the money taken home after taxes and any deductions are removed.
SMALL BUSINESS ADMINSTRATION DISASTER LOANS AND DRAP
Why must a community receive an SBA agency disaster declaration in order to be considered for the DRAP?
DRAP funding is limited. In order to assist as many people as possible, DRAP is available to communities that face a disaster large enough that it qualifies for an SBA declaration of a physical disaster but does not qualify for a federal major disaster declaration authorizing assistance to individuals.
What is a Small Business Administration, “Agency Disaster Declaration”?
The SBA can provide disaster assistance to affected individuals and businesses after a disaster. If a county qualifies, the SBA will issue an agency disaster declaration. The disaster declaration opens low-interest loans for individuals and businesses to replace lost items.
How does a county qualify for an SBA Disaster Declaration?
To qualify for an SBA disaster declaration, a county:
• Identifies at least 25 households and/or businesses affected; and
• Must have uninsured losses equal to at least 40% of fair market value
What are SBA “Home and Personal Property Loans”?
If a county has received an SBA declaration, a homeowner, renter and/or personal property owner, can apply to the SBA for a low-interest loan to help repair or replace clothing, furniture, cars, or appliances damaged or destroyed in the disaster.
I’m not a business, why apply for an SBA Disaster Loan?
The SBA Home and Personal Property Loans help homeowners and renters recover from a disaster.
Why does someone need to apply for an SBA loan before they are eligible to receive DRAP?
DRAP is a state grant program with limited funds that provides relief to those who do not have any other means to recover. Households with income equal to or less than 500% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines must first apply for a disaster loan through the SBA and be denied before applying for a DRAP grant.
Can I apply for an SBA loan and DRAP at the same time?
PEMA will coordinate with the SBA to identify individuals who were denied an SBA loan.
PEMA will work to contact these individuals to ensure they have information about the DRAP and application process. DRAP applications without proof of an SBA Loan Request Denial will not be considered.
WHAT DRAP COVERS:
How much can a survivor get through DRAP?
DRAP grants help pay for losses that were a direct result of the disaster. Covered losses fit in to one of three categories explained below. Although a household may be eligible for one or more categories, the total amount provided to a household will not exceed $10,000.
Category 1: Home Repairs
For eligible homeowners, primary residence only. DRAP grants may cover up to $10,000 of eligible repairs to return the home to the safe, healthy, accessible, and weatherproof condition it was in prior to the disaster. For example, DRAP grants may not be used to install central air conditioning if it wasn’t already present in the home before the disaster.
• If an applicant has already had work performed, detailed receipts must be submitted.
• If an applicant has not yet had work performed, they will be required to submit quotes from at least two different registered contractors for the project as part of their application.
The Home Repairs category covers the following caused by a disaster:
• Entrance or exit ways from the home in order to ensure safe access. This does not include improvements to entrance and exit ways.
• Removal of disaster-related debris that causes a threat to health, safety, or access to the residence.
• Structural damage to the home.
• Windows, doors, floors, walls, ceilings, or cabinetry.
• Septic or sewage systems.
• Well or other water systems.
• Heating, ventilation, or air conditioning systems.
• Utilities, including electrical, plumbing and gas systems.
• Blocking, leveling, and anchoring of a mobile home, and reconnecting or resetting its sewer, water, electrical, and fuel lines and tanks; and
• Permitting and inspection.
Category 2: Temporary Housing
For eligible homeowners and renters. DRAP grants may be used for temporary housing if the home is destroyed, uninhabitable, inaccessible, or unavailable due to a disaster. DRAP authorizes up to 60 days lodging at a licensed establishment and up to $5,000.
• Rooms must be booked with at least two members of the household staying in each room, whenever possible.
Category 3: Essential Personal Property
For eligible homeowners and renters. DRAP grants may be used to cover the loss of essential personal property destroyed due to the disaster that is not covered by insurance.
Can cover up to $5,000 of essential personal items and includes:
• Clothing
• Medication
• Identification – passports, driver’s license, government-issued identification cards
• Furniture
• Kitchen items
• Mattresses/bed frames
What is NOT considered, “Essential Personal Property?”
Examples of non-essential personal items that are not eligible for DRAP funding include:
• Hobby collections (baseball cards, stamps, etc.)
• Stereos
• Video games
• Electronics
APPLYING FOR DRAP
Where does someone apply for DRAP?
When the DRAP is activated, eligible households apply for the state grant using the Commonwealth online eGrants system at esa.dced.state.pa.us. In order to apply using the eGrants system, the applicant needs to register for a Keystone Login.
What is a Keystone Login?
Keystone Login is a username and password that is used to log into any Commonwealth agency online service that participates in Keystone Login.
A Keystone Login can be obtained here: https://keystonelogin.pa.gov.
It takes less than ten minutes to register for a Keystone Login.
Where does someone go if they want help with the Keystone Log
Contact the Keystone Login Help Desk for all questions, concerns and issues with Keystone Login. The help desk can be reached by phone at 877-328-0995 or by email at KeystoneLoginSupport@randstadusa.com. Frequently asked questions are also available here: https://keystonelogin.pa.gov/Home/Help
What is needed to submit a grant application?
For the application to be finalized, you will eventually need to submit the following documents to PEMA:
- Proof of residency (ex. utility bill, driver’s license, lease agreement, mortgage document, or tax records)
- Proof of income (ex. tax records, Medicaid card, or three months of paystubs from the last calendar year for all members of household)
- Photographs of damage claimed
- Receipts for any reimbursements requested
- Quotes for remediation or repair work
- Cancelled check for direct deposit bank account. If you do not have a bank account, please inform your case manager upon being notified that your application has been approved
- Copies of home and/or renter’s insurance declaration page
- Proof of SBA Loan Request Denial
What happens if my grant application is approved?
Individuals awarded DRAP funds will receive an award letter and grant agreement from PEMA. The grant agreement provides the rules of the grant program and items you must complete as a recipient of the funds. Individuals use the KeystoneID to electronically sign the grant agreement.
Is a signed grant agreement required to receive DRAP funds?
Yes, a signed grant agreement is required to receive DRAP funds.
What does the grant agreement require?
Individuals must submit receipts to PEMA within 60 calendar days to demonstrate funds were spent on eligible DRAP costs as you submitted on your approved grant application.
It is also important to keep records related to the how DRAP funds were spent. It is your responsibility to retain all records related to this grant for three years.