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U.S. Department of Homeland Security Benefits
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You may be eligible for 7 form(s) of assistance.
| Forms of Assistance You Can Apply for Online |
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Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) / DRC Locator
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Program Description
A Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) is a readily accessible facility or mobile office which applicants can visit for information about Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or other disaster assistance programs, or for questions related to their case. The Disaster Recovery Center Locator allows individuals to find the hours, services, and locations of nearby DRCs.
Some of the services that a DRC may provide include:
- Guidance regarding disaster recovery assistance and programs for survivors
- Clarification of any written correspondence received from FEMA
- Housing assistance and rental resource information
- Answers to questions, resolution to problems and referrals to agencies that may provide further assistance
- Status of applications being processed by FEMA
- Small Business Administration (SBA) program information regarding assistance
- Registration for FEMA assistance via telephone
General Program Requirements
There are no eligibility criteria to enter a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) or to view the DRC Locator tool.
Application Process
For more information, see the Program Contact Information below.
Program Contact Information
No application is needed to utilize the Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) Locator. To find the nearest DRC, visit:
https://asd.fema.gov/inter/locator/drcLocator.jsp
For more information, please call:
1-800-621-FEMA (3362)
Managing Agency
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/index.jsp
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FEMA Housing Portal
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Program Description
The FEMA Housing Portal is intended to help individuals and families who have been displaced by a disaster find a place to live. The portal consolidates rental resources to help individuals and families find available rental units in their area. Rental resources are identified and provided by Federal agencies such as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Veterans Administration, as well as by private organizations and individuals.
General Program Requirements
In the advanced search criteria users can search for properties that meet their living needs and/or accept specific assistance programs. The relevant advanced search criteria are listed below:
- Pets accepted
- Section 8
- Accessible
Application Process
For more information, see the Program Contact Information below.
Program Contact Information
No application is necessary to utilize the FEMA Housing Portal website.
To start searching for housing, visit:
https://asd.fema.gov/inter/hportal/home.htm
Managing Agency
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/index.jsp
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Individuals and Households Program – Housing Assistance
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Program Description
The Individuals and Households Program (IHP) provides assistance to individuals and households affected by a disaster to enable them to address necessary expenses and serious needs, which cannot be met through other forms of disaster assistance or insurance. Forms of housing assistance under IHP include temporary housing, repair, replacement, and semi-permanent/permanent housing construction.
General Program Requirements
To receive money or help for housing needs that are the result of a disaster, all of the following must be true:
- You have losses in an area that has been declared a disaster by the President of the United States
- You have no insurance, or have filed for insurance benefits and the damage to your property is not covered by your insurance, or your insurance settlement is insufficient to meet your losses
- You or someone who lives with you is a citizen of the United States, a non-citizen national, or a qualified alien
- The home in the disaster area is where you usually live and where you were living at the time of the disaster
- You are not able to live in your home now, you cannot get to your home due to the disaster, or your home requires repairs because of damage from the disaster.
Application Process
For more information, see the Program Contact Information below.
Program Contact Information
To apply for assistance online, take the DisasterAssistance.gov Questionnaire:
Take Questionnaire
Or you can begin the assistance registration process:
You can visit a local Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) for assistance, or call the FEMA Helpline to register for disaster assistance or ask questions about your application:
1-800-621-3362
For people with speech or hearing disabilities, call:
TTY 1-800-462-7585
Managing Agency
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/index.jsp
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Individuals and Households Program – Other Needs Assistance
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Program Description
The Individuals and Households Program provides assistance to individuals and households affected by a disaster to enable them to address necessary expenses and serious needs, which cannot be met through other forms of disaster assistance or insurance. Forms of other needs assistance under IHP include personal property, medical, dental and funeral.
General Program Requirements
To receive money for “Other than Housing Needs” that are the result of a disaster, all the following must be true:
- You have losses in an area that has been declared a disaster area by the President of the United States
- You have no insurance, or have filed for insurance benefits and the damage to your property is not covered by your insurance, or your insurance settlement is insufficient to meet your losses
- You or someone who lives with you is a citizen of the United States, a non-citizen national, or a qualified alien
- You have necessary expenses or serious needs because of the disaster
- You have accepted assistance from all other sources for which you are eligible, such as insurance proceeds or Small Business Administration disaster loans.
Application Process
For more information, see the Program Contact Information below.
Program Contact Information
You can visit a local Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) for assistance, or call the FEMA helpline for teleregistration or with questions about FEMA other needs assistance:
1-800-621-3362
Managing Agency
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/index.jsp
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| Forms of Assistance without Online Applications |
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Disaster Legal Services (DLS)
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Program Description
Disaster Legal Services (DLS) provides legal assistance to low-income individuals who, prior to or as a result of a disaster, are unable to secure legal services adequate to meet their disaster-related needs. When the President declares a major disaster, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, through an agreement with the Young Lawyers Division of the American Bar Association, provides free legal assistance to low income disaster survivors. Legal assistance includes counseling and advice, referral to appropriate sources of legal services and legal representation in non-fee-generating cases. Cases that may generate a fee are turned over to the local lawyer referral service. The legal assistance is provided by a range of participating attorneys, law firms, not-for-profit legal services providers, Legal Services Corporation recipients, state and local bar associations and pro bono organizations.
Local lawyers typically provide assistance such as:
- Help with insurance claims for doctor and hospital bills, loss of property, loss of life, etc.
- Drawing up new wills, powers of attorney and other legal documents lost during the disaster
- Help with home repair contracts and contractors
- Advice on problems with landlords
General Program Requirements
In order to qualify for this benefit program, you must be a survivor of a presidentially-declared major disaster.
Application Process
For more information, see the Program Contact Information below.
Program Contact Information
Please note that when you contact the following numbers, you will be directed to available disaster-specific assistance and information. You will not receive direct legal assistance at that time.
You can call us toll free at:
1-800-621-3362
For the hearing impaired, please call:
1-800-462-7585
Headquarters Office:
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Recovery Division
Washington, DC 20472
For more information, please visit the following websites:
http://www.fema.gov/assistance/index.shtm
http://www.abanet.org/disaster/
http://www.disasterlegalaid.org/
http://www.lsc.gov/
Managing Agency
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/index.jsp
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National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
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Program Description
Congress created the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) in 1968. The NFIP, managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), enables homeowners, business owners and renters in participating communities to purchase federally backed flood insurance. This insurance offers an insurance alternative to disaster assistance to meet the escalating costs of repairing flood damage to buildings and their contents.
Participating communities agree to adopt and enforce floodplain management ordinances to reduce future flood damage. There are now more than 20,600 participating communities across the United States and its territories.
Federal flood insurance is available for residents and business owners in both high-risk and moderate-to-low risk areas. The insurance is required for buildings in high-risk areas that have loans from federally regulated or insured lenders. This requirement extends to disaster assistance loans from the Small Business Administration. However, you don’t need to have a mortgage or SBA loan or live in a high-risk area to obtain flood insurance. It is available community-wide, with premiums that vary according to the level of risk. In fact, about 25 percent of all flood claims occur in moderate- to low- risk areas, and premiums start as low as $119 per year.
General Program Requirements
Some forms of disaster assistance will require that flood insurance is obtained and maintained for different lengths of time. Refer to those programs to learn their specific requirements. Federal flood insurance, however, is not a disaster assistance program. It is an insurance program established to help property owners to recover more quickly and at less cost. For example, disaster loans have to be repaid along with any other outstanding mortgages; flood insurance payments do not have to be repaid. Flood insurance is available to property owners and renters, even if they have had a claim before, as long as they live in a participating community.
Application Process
For more information, see the Program Contact Information below.
Program Contact Information
Your community maintains a repository of Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) that you can view to determine whether your property is located in a high-risk or a moderate- to low-risk area. These maps are usually available at the planning and zoning department where building permits are obtained. They also may be found online at:
http://msc.fema.gov
If you still have questions after obtaining your flood hazard zone, you may call a FEMA mapping specialist toll free at:
1-877-336-2627
Anyone living in a participating community should consider flood insurance before the next flood occurs. Flood insurance, like other property and casualty coverage, is written by licensed insurance agents. The agent who writes your homeowners or property insurance should be able to assist you in determining your eligibility and coverage options.
For more information about the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), visit:
http://www.fema.gov/business/nfip/
To learn more about your flood risk and flood insurance options or to locate an agent call
1-888-724-6353 toll free or visit:
http://www.FloodSmart.gov
Managing Agency
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/index.jsp
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The National Emergency Family Registry and Locator System
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Program Description
The National Emergency Family Registry and Locator System (NEFRLS) helps reunite families separated by a disaster. It allows displaced individuals to register and provide information about their current location and situation, and then allows them to designate up to seven individuals (called designees) who may view their information. Affected individuals, or those seeking information about friends or family, can visit the NEFRLS website or call the NEFRLS hotline to register themselves or inquire about another person. The system is only activated to support presidentially-declared disasters that involve mass evacuation.
Registrants can submit their location and the names of family members, guardians, or friends traveling with them, as well as who is authorized to search the system for them. A displaced person can use NEFRLS after they register to search for other missing family members or friends. Once a registrant has designated/authorized an individual to search for and review their personal information, then that individual can search NEFRLS provided they are successful in passing identify validation and know personal information about the registrant for whom they are searching.
General Program Requirements
In order to utilize this system, an individual must have been affected by a presidentially-declared disaster (generally events that resulted in mass evacuations), or be seeking information on someone who has been affected by a presidentially-declared disaster.
The system also permits Law Enforcement to search for individuals missing as a result of a disaster.
Application Process
For more information, see the Program Contact Information below.
Program Contact Information
Eligible individuals (see General Program Requirements) may register as a displaced person or search for displaced persons either online or by calling the Hotline.
To register with NEFRLS or if you wish to find out about someone's status, call:
1-800-588-9822
For more information, please call:
1-800-621-FEMA (3362)
This National Emergency Family Registry and Locator System is activated on a disaster specific basis, and is not currently active. For information about the system, please contact the FEMA Mass Care Unit (National Shelter System Support line) at:
202-646-1640
Or by email at:
esf-06-mass-care-1@dhs.gov
Managing Agency
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/index.jsp
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