Do you have a link to the Governors Emergency Management / Homeland Security announcement stating they have agreed to pay for the generator reimbursements under Personal Property Assistance or under the Individuals and Household Programs (IHP)? Your state office for Emergency Management contact information is here.

You need to ask for clarification about eligibility or if the Governor's office has published a waiver.

I have collected FEMA announcements, local news outlets and Governor's press releases since 2016 about "Generators and Chainsaws."
I'm still looking for someone to show me a grant letter that doesn't reference medical needs assistance and reimbursed the amount FEMA announced.

FEMA Press Release Sept. 2024: Costs of Generators and Chainsaws May Be Reimbursable
Snip from press release:

"If you purchased or rented a generator or chainsaw because of Hurricane Francine, you may be able to get reimbursed by FEMA for those expenses. The maximum reimbursement for a chainsaw is $219 and the maximum reimbursement for a generator is $629.

• You may be eligible if you purchased or rented a generator to power equipment necessary for an existing medical condition."

You would find this type of generator announcement linked from your FEMA Disaster Resource Page: News and Media: Disaster 4827

Hurricane Helene impacted states, like all other states, file an "ADMINISTRATIVE OPTION SELECTION" form by the end of November each year. The title of the form is " INDIVIDUALS AND HOUSEHOLDS PROGRAM (IHP) - OTHER NEEDS ASSISTANCE ADMINISTRATIVE OPTION SELECTION"

By default under the group: "Miscellaneous/Other Line Items" generator is selected. But this is by for Medical Needs Assistance according to the IHP Unified Guidance Final 9-27-2016 (reviewed with 2024 amendments), not Personal Property Assistance like "essential tools required for self-employment" .

It's really difficult to understand what FEMA announces when they say, "You may be...", that "may be" costs if you don't follow things correctly.

To date this is the only reimbursement for a generator that I have found was from a medical needs household. If you find anything other than what I'm sharing below, please send me a message so I can update my disaster logs.

[Start of FEMA ONA Generator letter skipping header]

FEMA has reviewed your application for disaster assistance. FEMA Assistance is not a substitute for insurance and cannot cover all losses caused by a disaster it is intended to help with emergency disaster recovery needs. This letter explains the assistance you are eligible to receive. 

ASSISTANCE APPROVED
You are eligible for a total of $800.00:

The U.S. Department of the Treasury will either mail you a check or deposit the funds into your bank account.

Eligible - Other Needs Assistance - Miscellaneous Assistance (EMISC) 
You have been APPROVED for $800.00 for Miscellaneous Assistance for Other Assistance Includes: Generator, 5.5KW. This assistance is provided to assist with specific disaster-related expenses approved by your State, Territory, or Tribal Government.

(End of FEMA letter]

Here's a page I put together for Louisiana, Texas and a few others for our disasters between 2016 and 2022.
LINK: Will FEMA reimburse me for buying a chainsaw or a generator? Maybe, but most likely no.

Original Article: Will FEMA reimburse me for buying a chainsaw or a generator? Maybe, but most likely no.