South Carolina § 48-62-60 - Disaster relief assistance; requirements.

§ 48-62-60. Disaster relief assistance; requirements.

(A) Following a federally declared disaster, the Disaster Relief and Resilience Reserve Fund may make available immediate disaster relief assistance to aid resilient rebuilding in affected communities with significant unmet needs. For purposes of this section, disaster relief assistance includes, but is not limited to:

(1) financial assistance to state and local governmental entities to provide the nonfederal share for federal disaster assistance programs;

(2) infrastructure repairs for homeowners and communities that are not eligible for Community Development Block Grant—Disaster Recovery and other federal funding assistance;

(3) loans and grants to local governments in disaster areas that need immediate cash flow assistance;

(4) grants to governmental entities and organizations exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code to repair or replace infrastructure or equipment damaged as a result of a natural disaster; and

(5) financial assistance for verifiable losses of agricultural commodities due to a natural disaster.

(B) Activities completed using disaster relief assistance from the fund shall account for future risks and hazard exposure in order to rebuild in a manner that will reduce the exposure of the community to future hazards and reduce future losses, consistent with the implementation of the Statewide Resilience Plan.

(C) In order to qualify for disaster relief assistance, eligible fund recipients must apply to the office and meet all criteria set forth by the office.

HISTORY: 2020 Act No. 163 (S.259), SECTION 1.A, eff September 29, 2020.