CDBG Disaster Recovery 2022

Protect Yourself from Fraud and Abuse: After a disaster, scam artists, identity thieves, and other criminals often attempt to take advantage of disaster survivors: watch for and report any suspicious activity.

• FEMA Disaster Fraud Resources – https://www.fema.gov/about/offices/security/disaster-fraud
• HUD OIG Hotline – https://www.hudoig.gov/hotline
• Avoiding Post-Disaster Scams and Fraud – https://files.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/OHC-DR-Toolkit-Avoiding-Post-Disaster-Scams-and-Fraud.pdf
• Oklahoma Attorney General Consumer Protection – https://www.oag.ok.gov/consumer-protection
• Oklahoma Attorney General Disaster Fraud Prevention – https://www.oag.ok.gov/sites/g/files/gmc766/f/documents/2023/2023_disaster_scam_prevention_packet.pdf

Please note that accessing CDBG-DR assistance is completely free. Report anyone attempting to collect fees for disaster recovery assistance or any other fraud, waste, or abuse to DisasterRecovery@okcommerce.gov, or to the HUD OIG. The CDBG-DR program is a federal grant, and there is no fee or cost for municipalities or residents to apply.

Commerce’s Anti-Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Policy can be found below.

Retain All Recovery Documents: Commerce advises subrecipients, the public, and potential applicants to retain all receipts documenting expenditures for recovery needs. All documentation regarding the recovery process should be retained, including FEMA reports and letters, receipts for the costs of repairs, itemized invoices from contractors, documentation of insurance payouts, images of damages and repairs, and any documentation of charitable donations.  This documentation can ensure that a household will get the maximum amount of assistance for which they are eligible.