The STORM Act allows FEMA to award capitalization grants for eligible entities to make funding decisions and award loans directly to local communities.
Eligible entities are:
- States
- Federally recognized tribes that received a major disaster declaration pursuant to Section 401 of the Stafford Act
- Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the District of Columbia
Federally Recognized Tribes
If the Tribal Nation received federal assistance under a state’s disaster declaration, either as an applicant or subapplicant, instead of its own independent declaration, it is ineligible for a direct revolving loan fund capitalization grant.
Only 20 Tribal Nations are eligible to apply for this funding, since the vast majority of Tribal Nations have not been able to make a direct disaster declaration under current policies.
The STORM Act generally requires eligible entities receiving a Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF capitalization grant to provide loans to local governments. For tribal eligible entities, this may mean providing a loan to any sub-component within their respective governmental structures or to an authorized tribal organization.
All Indian tribes—federally recognized tribes and tribal entities that are not federally recognized tribes—located within a participating entity (e.g., state), may apply for a loan under that entity’s revolving loan fund.
FEMA has determined that 20 Tribal Nations have a qualifying major disaster declaration. That list includes but may not be limited to:
- Cahuilla Band of Indians
- Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation
- Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
- Havasupai Tribe
- Hoopa Valley Tribe
- Karuk Tribe
- La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians
- Muscogee (Creek) Nation
- Navajo Nation
- Oglala Sioux Tribe
- Poarch Band of Creek Indians
- Ponca Tribe of Nebraska
- Pueblo of Acoma
- Resighini Rancheria
- Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa
- Santa Clara Pueblo
- Seminole Tribe of Florida
- Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians
- Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
- Tohono O’odham Nation
Local Governments
Although local communities cannot apply directly to FEMA for capitalization grants, communities can apply to participating entities for low-interest loans. Loan recipients must have an approved hazard mitigation plan. These loans will allow local jurisdictions to reduce vulnerability to hazards, foster greater community resilience and reduce disaster suffering.
The STORM Act generally requires eligible entities receiving a Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF capitalization grant to provide loans to local governments. For tribal eligible entities, this may mean providing a loan to any sub-component within their respective governmental structures or to an authorized tribal organization.
FEMA published a Notice of Intent on Aug. 29 to allow time for entities to develop an Intended Use Plan and develop local government project proposals.