Natural hazards, financial assistance

In order to mitigate exceptional emergencies resulting from uninsurable damage of more than EUR 5,000.00 caused by natural hazards (e.g. extreme weather conditions, earthquakes, subsidence, landslides, forest fires, floods), which the affected parties are unable to remedy either by their own efforts or by taking appropriate precautions, state financial aid may be granted for damage to buildings and household contents in private property, agricultural and horticultural businesses and commercial enterprises on the basis of a decision by the responsible regional council.
Exceptions to this principle require the approval of the Hessian Ministry of Finance. In the case of particularly urgent emergencies, emergency aid of up to EUR 10,000.00 can be provided.

The documents required to verify the financial circumstances (e.g. income tax statements, pension statements, loan agreements and other documents) are required. They must be enclosed with the application.
The application forms are attached to the Natural Disaster Insurance Guidelines as Model A (agricultural and horticultural businesses), Model B (commercial businesses) and Model C (private claimants).

Guidelines for the granting of state financial aid in the event of damage caused by natural hazards, enacted on July 1, 2008 by decree of the Hessian Ministry of the Interior and Sport dated June 26, 2008 (Staatsanzeiger für das Land Hessen, 2008, p. 1855).

The application must be submitted within one month (cut-off period) after the responsible regional council announces the financial aid action.

The regional council must decide beforehand - within one week - on an application to be submitted within one week of the damage event by the district committee or the municipal council - in agreement with the Hessian Ministry of the Interior and Sport - whether a financial aid action is to be initiated.

This will be announced in an appropriate manner.
The regional council shall inform the Hessian Ministry of Finance and the responsible ministries no later than the next day after the decision.