FEMA Assistance for Houses Damaged by Disaster-Related Land Movement

FEMA may provide Housing Assistance to applicants whose homes are impacted by disaster-caused land movement, including landslides, mudslides, erosion, sinkholes, and/or washouts.

Disaster-Related Land Movement

Erosion and land movement, including sinkholes, are not uncommon in Kentucky following severe storms, due to the state's natural landscape and weather patterns.

Sinkholes and other forms of erosion can occur naturally or by human activities, such as groundwater withdrawals or due to leaking water or sewer pipes. This type of land movement can also occur due to heavy rainfall, mudflow and flooding.

If you discover a sinkhole on your property, report it to your local public works department, sewer district, or other local officials, as the sinkhole could be the result of sewer collapse or other drainage issues.

Along with any other disaster-related damage on your property, be sure to take photos and video to properly document any land movement or erosion directly related to recent severe weather events.

FEMA Housing Assistance

FEMA may provide Housing Assistance to applicants whose homes are impacted by disaster-caused land movement, including landslides, mudslides, erosion, sinkholes, and/or washouts. The assistance is subject to FEMA's maximum financial award for Housing Assistance.

FEMA housing assistance may be provided when the disaster has caused damage that affects the habitability of the home. A home is considered "uninhabitable" if it's not safe, clean, or livable.

To be eligible for assistance, you will need to meet the following criteria:

• The home or its real property components were functional immediately before the declared disaster.
• The damage was caused by the declared disaster.
• The damage to the residence is not covered by insurance.
• FEMA inspection determines that repairs are necessary, or confirms the home is uninhabitable.

Home Inspection

During the inspection, FEMA will assess whether there is an immediate or imminent threat to the home. An "immediate or imminent threat" is a condition that is currently happening, such as a mudslide in progress, rather than simply a risk that could occur. Eligible applicants whose homes are determined to be impacted by an immediate or imminent threat may be eligible to receive Home Replacement Assistance.

If local officials have determined the home is unsafe to occupy or enter due to disaster damage, the FEMA inspector will record this determination and document all verifiable structural and personal property damage.

How To Apply for FEMA Assistance Following April Storms in Kentucky

The first step to receive FEMA assistance is to apply. Survivors of the April storms who live in the designated counties have until June 25 to apply for assistance.

You can apply in several ways:

• Apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
• Visit any Disaster Recovery Center. To find a center close to you, visit fema.gov/DRC, or text DRC along with your Zip Code to 43362 (Example: "DRC 29169").
• Use the FEMA mobile app.
• Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. It is open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. Help is available in many languages. If you use a relay service, such as Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service.

For an accessible video on how to apply for FEMA assistance, go to youtube.com/watch?v=WZGpWI2RCNw.

For the latest information about Kentucky's recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4860 and fema.gov/disaster/4864. Follow FEMA on X at x.com/femaregion4 or on Facebook at facebook.com/fema.