Is the $750 in initial federal aid to Hurricane Helene victims a loan that must be paid back or people's property could be seized? No, that's not true: The $750, which comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Serious Needs Assistance program, is a grant, not a loan, and does not need to be repaid. Additionally, the agency's website states it "cannot seize your property or land" if you apply for disaster assistance.
The claim appeared in a video (archived here) on TikTok on October 4, 2024, with the on-screen titles "Ashville Flood," which misspells the name of the hard-hit North Carolina city of Asheville, and "FEMA Inspector Warns Flood Victims of Gov. land grab contracts disguised as federal relief 😢." The video's caption said:
#northcarolina #flood #rescue #fyp #fypシ #disaster #ashville #helene
This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:
(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Mon Oct 7 15:27:58 2024 UTC)
In the 107-second video, a purported "veteran FEMA inspector," whose name or identity is not given, offers what he calls a "dire warning" for those who accept money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). While speaking with the show's host, he says, in part:
When the inspector gets there, before he starts inspecting, there is a contract that the claimant has to sign. ...
In that contract, if you do not pay the money back -- it is a loan, it is a loan -- and even if it's just a dollar or $750 if you don't pay it back, they have the right to seize all of your property.
[Host interjects] That's insane. The $750 that they are saying that they're going to get people, that's a loan? That's in the contract to receive it?
[purported FEMA inspector continues] Yes, there is a contract that you sign before the inspector starts this inspection. You have to sign off on it. ...
If you take that money and don't pay it back, they can seize your property. At any point, after a year.
The video provided no evidence to support its assertion that victims of Helene must repay the $750 in federal disaster assistance from FEMA or forfeit their property. The video also doesn't identify the show's host, and Lead Stories was unable to determine who she is or what show she hosts.
Federal Emergency Management Agency
FEMA's "Hurricane Helene: Rumor Response" website (archived here) addresses both allegations made in the social media video: first, that the $750 in federal disaster assistance is a loan; and second, that FEMA or the federal government can seize recipients' property if the money isn't repaid.
The $750 in immediate support comes from FEMA's Serious Needs Assistance program (archived here). Storm victims can apply for it by creating an account at DisasterAssistance.gov or by using the FEMA app found in the App Store or Google Play.
Now to the two claims in the video. The FEMA website says this about the first one:
Rumor: FEMA only provides loans to disaster survivors.
Fact:
This is false. In most cases, FEMA grants do NOT have to be paid back.
There are some less common situations in which you may have to pay FEMA back if you receive duplicate benefits from insurance or a grant from another source. For example, if you have insurance that covers your temporary housing costs, but you ask FEMA to advance you some money to help you pay for those costs while your insurance is delayed, you will need to pay that money back to FEMA after you receive your insurance settlement.
On the second claim, FEMA states:
Fact:
FEMA cannot seize your property or land. Applying for disaster assistance does not grant FEMA or the federal government authority or ownership of your property or land.
Read more
Additional Lead Stories fact checks of claims about Hurricane Helene can be found here.
