Disaster Assistance

U.S. Department of Homeland Security
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 you can visit for information about Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or other disaster assistance programs, or for questions related to your case. The DRC Locator allows you to find the hours, services, and locations of nearby DRCs.

Some of the services that a DRC may provide include:
  • Application for disaster assistance
  • Help understanding disaster recovery assistance and programs for survivors
  • Help understanding 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 submitted to FEMA
  • Help obtaining and understanding information on Small Business Administration (SBA) assistance programs
General Program Requirements
Anyone can visit a DRC or use the DRC Locator tool.
Application Process
No application is required to use the DRC Locator. To find the nearest DRC, visit http://asd.fema.gov/inter/locator/home.htm.
Program Contact Information
For more information, please call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for people with hearing or speech disabilities.
Managing Agency
U.S. Department of Homeland Security http://www.dhs.gov/
FEMA Housing Portal
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Program Description
The FEMA Housing Portal helps individuals and families who are 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 areas. 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, and U.S. Veterans Administration, as well as by private organizations and individuals.

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
General Program Requirements
Anyone can use the FEMA Housing Portal website.
Application Process
No application is required to use the FEMA Housing Portal website. Individuals using this portal should call FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) prior to traveling to the property to make sure the property is still available. People with hearing or speech disabilities should call 1-800-462-7585 (TTY).

To start searching for housing, visit https://asd.fema.gov/inter/hportal/home.htm.
Program Contact Information
For more information, please call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for people with hearing or speech disabilities.
Managing Agency
U.S. Department of Homeland Security http://www.dhs.gov/
Individuals and Households Program - Housing Assistance
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Program Description
The Individuals and Households Program (IHP) helps you and members of your household who are affected by a disaster take care of necessary expenses and serious needs related to housing that 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 for individual assistance 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 cover 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
To begin the assistance registration process, visit Start Registration. You can also register by calling the phone numbers below.

In addition, you can visit a local Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) for assistance. See the DRC Locator form of assistance for more information.
Program Contact Information
For more information, please call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for people with hearing or speech disabilities.
Managing Agency
U.S. Department of Homeland Security http://www.dhs.gov/
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
To apply for this program please contact FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA (1-800-621-3362) or visit:
http://www.fema.gov/assistance/index.shtm
Program Contact Information
For more information, please call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for people with hearing or speech disabilities.
Managing Agency
U.S. Department of Homeland Security http://www.dhs.gov/
Forms of Assistance without Online Applications
Disaster Legal Services (DLS)
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Program Description

Disaster Legal Services (DLS) provides legal assistance to individuals who 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.

DLS providers typically help with:

  • Insurance claims for doctor and hospital bills, loss of property, loss of life, etc.
  • New wills, powers of attorney and other legal papers lost during the disaster
  • Home repair contracts and contractors
  • 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
You can be referred to Disaster Legal Services by calling 1-800-621-3362 (FEMA) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for people with hearing or speech disabilities.

Please note that when you contact the numbers above, you will be able to get disaster-specific assistance and information. At that time, you will also receive information on how to get legal assistance.
Program Contact Information
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/
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
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Program Description
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) enables homeowners, business owners and renters in participating communities to purchase federally backed flood insurance. This insurance offers help in meeting the escalating costs of repairing flood damage to buildings and their contents.

Federal flood insurance is not a disaster assistance program. It is an insurance program established to help property owners recover more quickly and at less cost. However, different forms of disaster assistance require that flood insurance be obtained and maintained for different lengths of time in order to qualify for the assistance. Refer to those programs to learn about their specific requirements.

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.

Your community maintains a collection 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 zone. You can also find them online at http://msc.fema.gov.
General Program Requirements
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. Flood insurance payments do not have to be repaid.
Application Process
To learn more about your flood risk and flood insurance options or to locate an agent call, toll-free, 1-888-724-6353 or visit http://www.FloodSmart.gov.
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
Managing Agency
U.S. Department of Homeland Security http://www.dhs.gov/
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 list family members traveling with them. They can also list specific guardians, friends or family members who have their permission to get information on their situation and location from the NEFRLS website.

People looking for people affected by a disaster can also register to use NEFRLS to search for missing family members as long as they have some personal information to identify their missing family member and that family member has listed them as a person who can have access to their situation and location.
General Program Requirements
In order to use this system, you must have been affected by a Presidentially-declared disaster that resulted in mass evacuations, or be seeking information on someone who has been affected by a Presidentially-declared disaster.
Application Process
To register with NEFRLS or find out about someone's status, call 1-800-588-9822 or visit https://egateway.fema.gov/inter/nefrls/home.htm.

Please note: The system is only activated to support presidentially-declared disasters and mass evacuations, and is not active at any other time.
Program Contact Information
For more information, please call:
1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for people with hearing or speech disabilities
Managing Agency
U.S. Department of Homeland Security http://www.dhs.gov/