The screen asks: As a result of this disaster, do you need assistance in any of the following categories?
She clicks Other Needs Assistance. The subcategories open: Personal Property. Transportation. Funeral. Medical and Dental. Child Care. Miscellaneous Items.
Personal Property: appliances, room furnishings, a personal or family computer.
Her grandmother's regalia was in the hall closet. The hall closet is silt.
She clicks Personal Property, unclicks it. Clicks it again. The help text: Describe the damage. Include the type of disaster and the type of home or vehicle.
Miscellaneous Items: generator, dehumidifier, chainsaw.
Are you or a member of your household enrolled in a federally recognized American Indian Tribe or Alaska Native Tribe?
Yes.
The same categories return. Her shoulders settle a quarter inch lower.
She finds the open text field. Her fingers rest on the keys, warm from the laptop's heat. She types regalia. The word sits against white. She deletes it. Types items.
At the bottom of the screen, gray text: Your questionnaire results will not be saved when you close this window.
Her hand stays on the mouse.
What FEMA Individual Assistance recognizes as loss:
- Home repair to safe, sanitary condition
- Rental assistance, temporary housing
- Appliances, room furnishings, a computer
- Vehicle repair or replacement
- Funeral expenses
- Medical/dental injury or illness
- Prescribed medication, service animal
- Child care (new or increased)
- Generator, dehumidifier, chainsaw
- Moving and storage
Maximum award: $43,600 housing + $43,600 other needs
"Other" in the system: Serves cost estimation methodology, a pricing category, not a loss category
The tribal enrollment question: Routes applicants to a different declaration track. The dropdown menus stay the same.
From the portal's own disclaimer: "IHP assistance is not a substitute for insurance and cannot compensate for all losses caused by a disaster."