FEMA cannot take land away from hurricane victims

The claim: FEMA loans money to disaster victims and takes their land if it isn’t paid back

An Oct. 5 Facebook post (direct link, archive link) makes a claim about the Federal Emergency Management Agency helping victims of natural disasters.

“Do not sign a contract with FEMA,” the post reads. “Read the fine print they lend you. If you don’t pay it back, they will take your land.”

It was shared more than 4,000 times in three days.

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Our rating: False

FEMA cannot seize property or land from people applying for federal disaster assistance. The agency’s grants generally do not have to be repaid.

FEMA cannot seize land or property from disaster victims

Hurricane Helene left extensive flooding, power outages and property damage across the Southeast after making landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast on September 26. The death toll stood at 228 as of Oct. 5, and an analysis found the cost of damage could be more than $30 billion, USA TODAY previously reported.

In response, FEMA participated in the recovery effort, transporting meals, water and other supplies to areas affected by the storm. In an Oct. 6 news release, FEMA said people in certain areas of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia could apply for federal assistance through the agency.

But FEMA doesn’t offer loans that allow it to take land away from people if the money isn’t paid back. The agency’s website says it “cannot seize your property or land.”

“Applying for disaster assistance does not give FEMA or the federal government the authority or ownership of your property or land,” the website states.

Fact check: AI behind the image of the flooded street in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, behind Helene

Financial support from the Agency comes in the form of grants, which generally do not have to be repaid, although there are some exceptions.

“If you have insurance that covers your temporary housing costs, but you ask FEMA to advance you some money so you can pay those costs while your insurance is delayed, you must pay that money back to FEMA after you receive your have received an insurance statement,” says the agency’s website.

The U.S. Small Business Administration, another federal agency, offers low-interest disaster loans to homeowners or small business owners to cover losses not covered by insurance or FEMA.

USA TODAY has debunked other false claims about Hurricane Helene, including that President Joe Biden said he would not provide further aid to Hurricane Helene victims, that victims would receive “only $750” in aid and that an image shows former President Donald Trump wading through floods after Hurricane Helene.

USA TODAY reached out to the social media user who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

Our fact-checking sources:

FEMA, Oct. 6: Federal assistance for Hurricane Helene survivors tops $137 million as the Biden-Harris administration continues its response and recovery efforts in the Southeast and closely monitors the storm in the Gulf
FEMA, accessed October 7, Hurricane Helene: Rumor Response
FEMA, September 30, Myth vs. Fact: Disaster Relief
US Small Business Administration, accessed October 7, Disaster Relief
USA TODAY, Oct. 5, Helene costs could top $30 billion; Death toll rises again: updates

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The claim: FEMA loans money to disaster victims and takes their land if it isn’t paid back

Our rating: False

FEMA cannot seize land or property from disaster victims

Our fact-checking sources:

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