Types of Disaster Assistance Available from FEMA

FEMA offers several types of disaster assistance to homeowners and renters who were affected by Tropical Storm Arthur on June 17-18. Survivors in Avoyelles, St. Landry, St. Tammany and Terrebonne parishes may apply for assistance under FEMA's Individuals and Households Program.

FEMA's Individual Assistance program directly helps disaster survivors with uninsured or underinsured basic critical needs such as damage to a home, car or personal items. FEMA cannot provide financial help when any other source - flood insurance or financial assistance from nonprofit agencies - has covered the same disaster-related need.

Under Individual Assistance, FEMA provides several types of financial and direct assistance to eligible individuals and families. These may include:

Housing Assistance

• Rental Assistance to rent housing if you are displaced from a disaster-damaged primary residence. You may use this money to rent a house, apartment, manufactured home, recreational vehicle or other dwelling.
• Lodging Expense Reimbursement for emergency housing needs if you cannot return to your home because of the disaster. The money can be used to stay in a hotel or motel after the disaster while you look for a rental unit.
• Home Repair or Replacement Assistance to help repair or replace a disaster-damaged primary residence to safe and sanitary condition.
• Accessibility Needs to help make accessibility repairs and upgrades such as an exterior ramp, grab bars and a paved path to the entrance of your home.

Other Needs Assistance

• Displacement Assistance is a one-time lump sum of money you can use to stay in a hotel or motel, with family and friends, or for other short-term housing while you look for temporary housing.
• Money to help you with necessary expenses and serious needs caused by a disaster, such as:
• Essential needs such as water, food, first aid, prescriptions, infant formula, breastfeeding supplies, diapers, personal hygiene items and fuel for transportation. Note: This is not a form of reimbursement for loss of power or replacing spoiled food.
• Repair and/or replacement of appliances, room furnishings, and a personal or family computer that was damaged. This can also include money for books, uniforms, tools, additional computers and other items required for school or work, including self-employment.
• Medical and dental expenses because the disaster caused an injury or illness.
• Childcare expenses or increased childcare expenses caused by the disaster.
• Miscellaneous items such as a generator, dehumidifier or chainsaw that you purchased or rented after the disaster to help you recover.
• Repair and/or replacement of a vehicle damaged by the disaster when you don't have another vehicle you can use.
• Moving and storage of personal property from your home to prevent additional damage, usually while you are making repairs to your home or moving to a new place due to the disaster.
• Learn more about FEMA's Individual Assistance program at fema.gov/assistance/individual.

Ways to apply

• The fastest way to apply to FEMA is online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
• You may also use the FEMA mobile app.
• Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Lines are open from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. CT daily. If you use a relay service, captioned telephone or other service, you can give FEMA your number for that service. Helpline specialists speak many languages. Press 2 for Spanish.
• Visit any Disaster Recovery Center to receive in-person assistance. To find one close to you, use your ZIP code to search FEMA.gov/DRC.

For an accessible video on how to apply visit: Three Ways to Register for FEMA Disaster Assistance - YouTube.

For more information, visit fema.gov/disaster/4927. Follow FEMA Region 6 on social media at x.com/FEMARegion6 and at facebook.com/FEMARegion6/.