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:
- Must be a Puyallup Tribal Member 18 years and older
- Must be the primary residence of the applicant. Children identified on application must be in legal custody of applicant prior to natural disaster
- Applicant must apply for assistance no later than 2 weeks after the natural disaster occurrence
- Provide documentation that natural disaster has occurred
- Provide documentation of fire damage to primary residence (if applicable); AND
- 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:
- Must be a Puyallup Tribal Member 18 years and older
- 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
- 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:
- 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
- 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.