Guidelines

Hilarity for Charity (HFC) is committed to supporting dementia family caregivers impacted by natural and other disasters. Our Emergency Relief Grants are designated as $1500 cash grants to families who are most affected by natural or geographic disasters, helping them continue their vital caregiving responsibilities during times of crisis.  Official disaster declarations must be in place from FEMA, state, or local government to qualify.  Grants are issued at the discretion of HFC.  HFC will prioritize applications based on:

1. Severity of Impact – Direct damage to home, loss of caregiving resources, or urgent need for relocation
2. Level of Disruption to Caregiving – Loss of utilities, access to healthcare, or displacement of both caregiver and care recipient
3. Available Funding – Support will be provided based on the availability of emergency relief funds  

To ensure clarity and consistency in our grant distribution for emergency relief, we define eligible disasters under the following categories:

1.  Natural Disaster

A natural disaster is a large-scale, unforeseen environmental event that causes significant damage or disruption to a community.  These include:

Severe Weather Events

• Hurricanes, typhoons, or cyclones (Category 3 or higher, or causing widespread damage)
• Tornados (EF2 or higher, or causing significant structural damage)
• Severe flooding (including flash floods and storm surges)
• Blizzards or extreme winter storms leading to widespread power outages or unsafe living conditions

Geophysical Disasters

• Earthquakes (Magnitude 6.0 or higher, or causing major structural damage)
• Tsunamis
• Volcanic eruptions
• Landslides or mudslides due to natural causes

Wildfires

• Large-scale wildfires that result in mandatory evacuations, destruction of homes, or significant air quality hazards

Extreme Hot or Cold Waves

• Heat waves resulting in widespread public health crises or power outages
• Extreme cold events causing infrastructure failures, prolonged power outages, or hazardous conditions

2. Regional Geographic Disaster

A regional geographic disaster is an event that severely impacts a specific location, making it unsafe or unlivable.  These include:

Infrastructure Failures

• Major power grid failures affecting a region for an extended period
• Water contamination crises making drinking water unsafe
• Transportation system collapses due to natural or structural failures

Public Health Emergencies

• Chemical spills or hazardous material incidents that result in evacuation or long-term health risks

Community-Wide Displacement Events

• Large-scale evacuations due to environmental hazards (e.g., gas leaks, dam failures)
• Government-declared disaster zones affecting residential stability
   

Eligibility for Emergency Relief Grants

To qualify for an HFC Emergency Relief Grant, applicants must:

• Reside in a federally, state, or locally declared disaster area OR provide evidence of direct impact from a qualifying disaster
• Be the primary caregiver for a family member with Alzheimer’s or dementia. A primary caregiver is an individual with primary responsibility for providing care and support, regardless of legal or biological relationship. This care may include physical, emotional, financial, or medical support and must be continuous and substantial. The caregiver does not need to reside with the care recipient.
• Demonstrate financial hardship caused by the disaster that affects their ability to provide care (e.g., loss of home, inability to access medical services, evacuation costs).
• A third party may apply on behalf of a primary caregiver impacted by the conditions above.

Verification & Documentation

Applicants may be required to submit one or more of the following:

• Official disaster declaration from FEMA, state, or local government
• Proof of residence in an affected area
• Evidence of financial impact (e.g., lost wages, evacuation expenses, property damage)
• Confirmation of caregiving responsibilities