Make Smart Decisions with Hurricane Recovery Funds

BATON ROUGE, La. – With more than $113 million in Individual Assistance already in the hands of Louisiana’s Hurricane Isaac survivors, federal officials have some advice: Resist the urge to splurge.

“After a period of deprivation and stress, it’s natural for storm survivors to want to indulge in a few luxuries,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Gerard M. Stolar of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). “But state and federal disaster assistance is meant to help people pay for necessities, to help them get back on their feet.”

Disaster assistance may include grants to help pay for emergency repairs on damaged homes, temporary housing, or other serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance or other sources.

A letter explaining a payment’s purpose will arrive within a day or two of the check or direct deposit payment. If survivors use payments on anything other than their intended purpose, they may have to repay those funds — and might not be able to receive future disaster assistance.

“Survivors have to make smart decisions with their recovery funds,” Stolar said. “Recovery money can be a foundation on which to build a better future.”
Survivors who have not yet registered may do so online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov. They may also call 1-800-621-3362 or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585.  Those who use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services may call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

For more information on Louisiana disaster recovery, click www.fema.gov/disaster/4080 or www.gohsep.la.gov. You can follow FEMA on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion6 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA. Also visit our blog at www.fema.gov/blog.