Federal Government Provides Financial Assistance to Mariposa County

Mariposa County FEMA Grants

Mariposa County, after experiencing the severe impacts of the Oak Fire, Late December 2022 Winter Storms, and February/March 2023 Winter Storms, has secured approval for a range of federal aid programs to aid recovery efforts. The specific types of assistance approved vary depending on the respective declared disaster event.

Following the Oak Fire and Late December 2022 Winter Storms

Mariposa County has been granted access to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Single Family Housing Rural Disaster Home Repair Grants as a measure to support those whose homes were impacted by the Oak Fire and/or the late December 2022 winter storms. These grants are primarily intended to provide financial assistance to very low and low-income homeowners who sustained damage from these events. The funds can be utilized to cover repair costs, prepare the site, and even defray the expenses involved in relocating a manufactured home to a different site.

For more details about the grant or to submit an application, please visit https://bit.ly/41Bycpb. For a comprehensive list of federal resources available to survivors of the Oak Fire, please navigate to www.fema.gov/disaster/5445.

Following the February/March 2023 Winter Storms

In the wake of the series of winter storms that commenced on February 21st, 2023, Mariposa County has also received approval for federal aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Small Business Association’s (SBA) Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience. Mariposa County residents affected by these storms are urged to register for this assistance.

Registration for this aid can be accomplished through any of the following four methods:

  1. Visit www.disasterassistance.gov
  2. Call 800-621-3362
  3. Download the FEMA app
  4. Visit a Disaster Resource Center While registering, it is important to remember to use the Disaster Reference Number DR-4699.

In collaboration with Mariposa County, FEMA, SBA, and the California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) have established two Disaster Resource Centers (DRC) within the county which are currently open to the public:

Greeley Hill Community Center at 10332 Fisk Road in Coulterville, which is open from 9:00 am – 6:00 pm, Monday – Saturday, with the location set to close at the end of the day on May 18th.

Midpines Hall at 6364 Hwy 140 in Midpines, which is also open from 9:00 am – 6:00 pm, Monday – Saturday, with the location set to close at the end of the day on May 25th.

The closing dates may be extended if there is a sustained need for these centers.

Upon registration through FEMA, residents or business owners are automatically navigated through the process to determine the assistance they might qualify for. Each applicant will follow a slightly different pathway with various options, but all are strongly encouraged to register.

One of the stages of this process includes a home inspection conducted by FEMA to confirm the extent of the losses. This inspection generally takes around 30 to 45 minutes to complete, and the FEMA inspector will display their badge with a photo ID prior to commencing the inspection. If the inspector does not present a photo ID, do not continue with the inspection. Also, keep in mind that FEMA does not charge for the inspection; should someone request a fee, do not proceed.

FEMA and CalOES wish to caution individuals in disaster-affected areas about potential fraudulent activities. If you have any suspicions about individuals claiming to be FEMA representatives, you may ask to see their photo ID and request they confirm your FEMA application number, which you receive once you register. Do not provide any payment or personal financial information, as FEMA officials will not request this information. For more guidance on how to prevent fraud, please visit https://news.caloes.ca.gov/be-alert-to-fraud-aftera-disaster/.

Christopher Charles spent 6 years in the mortgage industry before moving into the world of digital media. He's helped thousands of families buy and refinance real estate at banks and mortgage companies and now continues that mission through industry-leading content. Chris is known for his expertise in the mortgage & real estate industry and continues to produce content all over the web.

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