FEMA Coalition Letter to President Trump
Coalition letter of religious and community leaders in support for S1823/H.R. 2405, the "Federal Disaster Assistance Nonprofit Fairness Act of 2017." This legislation would ensure fair and equal treatment for houses of worship damaged in natural disasters.
November 17, 2017
In the aftermath of natural disasters—including Hurricane Sandy, the 2016 Houston flood, and the recent devastation in Houston, Florida, and Puerto Rico—churches, synagogues and other houses of worship offered essential response services to people in need. In many cases—especially following Hurricane Sandy and Hurricane Harvey—these houses of worship provided essential services while the church or synagogue itself was damaged. Unfortunately, in the case of Hurricane Sandy, FEMA officials refused to give emergency grants to houses of worship (even though these houses of worship otherwise qualified as nonprofit entities). Many houses of worship damaged this year in the hurricanes in Houston and Florida have applied for relief under FEMA, but have received no indication that FEMA will consider their applications.