Natural Disaster Assistance Application

Fiscal Year 2024-2025

3009 East Portland Avenue

Tacoma, WA 98404

253-680-5671

PuyallupTribeEM@PuyallupTribe-nsn.gov


The intent of the Puyallup Tribe’s Natural Disaster Assistance Program is to provide monetary and/or shelter support to Tribal members when a natural disaster occurs.


CATEGORIES:


1) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE: is available when a Tribal member’s primary residence has been adversely affected by a natural disaster, i.e. floods, windstorms, hurricanes, tsunami, mud slides, tornados, hurricanes, earthquakes or fire. Applicants' residence must be deemed unlivable or inaccessible due to the natural disaster.


  • ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
  1. Must be a Puyallup Tribal Member 18 years and older
  2. Must be the primary residence of the applicant. Children identified on application must be in legal custody of applicant prior to natural disaster
  3. Applicant must apply for assistance no later than 2 weeks after the natural disaster occurrence
  4. Provide documentation that natural disaster has occurred
  5. Provide documentation of fire damage to primary residence (if applicable); AND
  6. Residence must be deemed unlivable for a period of time no less than 48 hours.


DISASTER CATEGORIES (Which deem your primary residence as unlivable):

1. Floods

2. Severe wind or snowstorms

3. Hurricanes

4. Mud slides

5. Tsunami

6. Earthquakes

7. Tornados

8. Fire


Applicant must provide verification in writing from a national or local weather organization, if applying for categories 1-7. For category 8 (fire), verification must be received by a local fire Marshal or local law enforcement agency. If you live in Pierce, King or Thurston counties the Director of the Emergency Housing Repair Program will verify the extent of the damage to your residence including grounds. For members living outside Pierce, King or Thurston counties a certified inspector may be required to assess the condition of the home. In the event that the Program Director is uncertain of the specific damages to your residence, the Program Director will facilitate the process to hire a certified inspector to assess the damage to your home.


For members living outside of Pierce, King or Thurston counties a certified inspector may be required to evaluate the condition of the home. Documentation of the assessment will be required.


LEVEL OF ASSISTANCE:

  • The amount of assistance will be based on the severity of the natural disaster and/or the number of Puyallup Tribal Members living in the home. The maximum amount of assistance is $2,500.



2) HOTEL STAY: to provide shelter assistance to Puyallup Tribal Members living within a natural disaster evacuation area that is within the reservation boundaries of the Puyallup Tribe.


  • ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
  1. Must be a Puyallup Tribal Member 18 years and older
  2. Applicant's primary residence is located in the designated disaster/evacuation area and within the boundaries of the Puyallup Tribe of Indians as defined by Tribal Law Enforcement AND
  3. Primary residence is inaccessible (evacuation), as determined and verified by local weather official, law enforcement agency or FEMA.


LEVEL OF ASSISTANCE:

  • The designation of a natural disaster within the Puyallup Tribe of Indians Reservation boundaries that require Tribal members to be evacuated will not decrease their level of assistance in the Financial Assistance category of this policy due to the probability of the Tribe submitting documentation to FEMA for reimbursement.


EMERALD QUEEN CASINO HOTEL

  • If a natural disaster’s magnitude is large enough, Tribal Council may choose to offer Hotel Stay Assistance at the Emerald Queen Casino Hotel at no cost to the applicant.
  • If evacuation notice is issued after regular business hours Tribal Council will be polled to approve hotel stay.
  • The length of stay will be determined and approved by Tribal Council and verified by local weather official, law enforcement or FEMA. Assistance is contingent on the availability of rooms at the Emerald Queen Casino.


HOTEL VOUCHERS

  • If there are no rooms available at the Emerald Queen Casino Hotel and the natural disaster requires evacuation, Tribal Council may issue hotel vouchers to qualified Tribal member families living within the evacuation area. The amount of the vouchers will be at a rate equal to/or less than the rate of the Emerald Queen Casino lodging. Length of stay will be determined and approved by Tribal Council.


All requests will be verified by the Director of the Emergency Housing Repair Program.


DEFINITIONS:

  1. Unlivable: the applicant is not able to occupy the residence for more than 48 hours based on the damage sustained to the unit. Please note: If applicant is evacuated by officials and the unit is not deemed unlivable, you are not eligible to receive natural disaster assistance; and
  2. Unit Inaccessible: When an applicant is evacuated from their primary residence and is not allowed the right of entry by an official (Law Enforcement) due to the natural disaster.



Applicants will be required to provide documentation of their emergency situation from an appropriate agency or department, such as FEMA, Fire Marshall, Law Enforcement Agencies, Puyallup Tribe Emergency Housing Repair Director or CDR designating approval for Hotel Stay.

1) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE CATEGORY:

Prior to Authorization of the Natural Disaster Assistance the Applicant will be required to provide the following documentation, depending on the category selected:

  1. Tribal Identification: Copy of all Tribal Members in household enrollment card front and back.
  2. Notarized Affidavit stating your natural disaster situation.
  3. Pictures documenting natural disaster.
  4. Documentation of fire damage report or insurance claim for natural disaster.
  5. If primary residence is in Pierce, King or Thurston Counties Contact Emergency Housing Repair Director to conduct inspection on unit to access damage.


If your primary residence (you must provide verification in the form of a lease agreement, phone bill, light bill or notarized affidavit that your unit is your primary residence) is deemed not livable for a minimum of 48 hours, you can qualify for the following assistance based on the number of Puyallup Tribal members in your household and the severity of your damaged unit (completely unlivable). Please note: all Tribal members identified in your application will be submitted to the enrollment department to verify address. It is your responsibility to make sure that accurate and updated information is on file with the enrollment department.


Family Size: (children must be in the legal custody of applicant prior to the natural disaster or fire).


The maximum amount of assistance:

  • 1-2 Puyallup Tribal Members: $500
  • 3-4 Puyallup Tribal Members: $1,000
  • 5 or more Puyallup Tribal Members: $1,500


An additional $1,000 will be given if the unit is completely unlivable.

2) HOTEL STAY CATEGORY:

The purpose of this category is to provide Tribal members with emergency hotel stay when a natural disaster occurs within the Puyallup Tribal Reservation Boundaries and Tribal Council has issued a CDR indicating the Natural Disaster evacuation area and to approve lodging at Emerald Queen Casino or other hotel (vouchers equal to or lesser than the cost of lodging at Emerald Queen Casino Hotel).


  1. Photo identification with primary address. This can be in the photo identification, Tribal member identification or lease agreement, mortgage documents, phone bills, electric bill or notarized affidavit, must have the address on documentation.
  2. Tribal Member enrollment card front and back
  3. Verification from local official that states your unit is located in evacuation area.


Please Note: No other charges are to be applied to the hotel bill, including telephone service, room service, movies, and Internet access. Applicant shall be responsible for any damages that occur while they are occupying room(s). This will include any additional costs necessary for the hotel to bring room up to standard (i.e., shampooing of carpets, stains, removing of bedding, towels).

Applicants will be required to provide documentation of their emergency situation from an appropriate agency or department, such as FEMA, Fire Marshall, Law Enforcement Agencies, Puyallup Tribe Emergency Housing Repair Director or CDR designating approval for Hotel Stay.


What category are you applying for?*
Are you renting?*

INELIGIBLE ASSISTANCE: RENTAL UNITS

  • Structural damages caused by weather (floods, mudslides, tornados, hurricanes, tsunamis, windstorms and earthquakes are generally the responsibility of the landlord.
  • Accidents such as fire caused by other tenants that effect Applicants’ unit are also the responsibility of the landlord or tenant.

Please note - this applies only to damage to the unit (i.e., structural, general appliances, etc.).


**Applicants who are renting can apply for Financial Assistance to assist with food, personal affects, lodging, etc. Financial assistance is based on family size.


Phone
Phone

Number in Household (including Applicant):*

List the Names of Individuals who are Puyallup Tribal Members and their Enrollment Number:


Category of Disaster:*

Which deems your primary residence as unlivable.

Please state in detail your natural disaster situation (i.e., damage to unit)


FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

  1. Tribal Identification: Copy of all Tribal Members in household enrollment cards front and back
  2. Notarized Affidavit stating your natural disaster situation
  3. Pictures documenting natural disaster
  4. Documentation of fire damage report or insurance claim for natural disaster
  5. If primary residence is in Pierce, King or Thurston Counties Contact Emergency Housing Repair Director to conduct inspection on unit to access damage


HOTEL STAY REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

  1. Photo identification with primary address
  2. Tribal Member enrollment card front and back
  3. Verification from local official that states your unit is located in evacuation area
Drag and drop files here or

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The information provided by you and your household is confidential and will be used only to for the purposes of determining eligibility and verifying the information you have submitted. Applications may be submitted any time during the year unless, otherwise determined by the Puyallup Tribe of Indians. Additional information pertaining to the Puyallup Tribal Natural Disaster Assistance Program is available from the Emergency Housing Repair Department. Call them at 253-573-7972 or visit 3009 E. Portland Avenue, Tacoma, Washington 98404.


Applicants knowing and willingly providing fraudulent information to obtain monetary assistance may be required to reimburse the Tribe for funding obtained erroneously and may be ground for prosecution.


In addition, the Natural Disaster Assistance Program is made available as long as the Puyallup Tribe funds this program, as such assistance may increase or decrease based on funding allocation.


I hereby certify that the documents and information provided in this Natural Disaster Assistance Application is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge. I further understand that knowingly or willingly providing fraudulent information to obtain monetary assistance can be grounds for prosecution and/or I will be required to reimburse the Tribe for funding obtained erroneously.

(Applicant full name)