FEMA Teams in Communities

FEMA's Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) teams support disaster survivors by helping them apply for federal assistance, identifying immediate needs, providing application updates and providing referrals to additional community resources.

They go to locations in affected communities-such as libraries, community centers and other local spaces- to provide survivors the opportunity to reach FEMA in places they already know and trust.

State and local governments establish these locations with FEMA's support. FEMA also leverages partnerships with the private sector, voluntary agencies, faith-based and community-based organizations to support this effort.

Keep in mind: DSA teams will never ask for or accept money and will always be wearing a FEMA identification badge with a photograph.

DSA Teams and Disaster Recovery Centers

DSA Teams can provide:

• Help applying for disaster assistance or questions about the application process.
• Updates on your application status.
• Referrals to other types of assistance that may be available.

Go to a Disaster Recovery Center for:

• Submitting documents to FEMA to move your application forward.
• Opportunities to meet with the U.S. Small Business Administration or other state or local officials to find additional types of assistance.
• One-on-one support with a FEMA specialist to complete your application or get answers to your questions about the assistance process.

Apply for FEMA Assistance Any Time

Individuals don't have to go to a Disaster Recovery Center or talk to a DSA team member to apply for FEMA assistance.

• Visit DisasterAssistance.gov. After applying, create an account to check for status updates and upload documents to move your application forward.
• Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. If you use a relay service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA the number for that service.