Survivors with Questions Should Contact FEMA for Answers

BATON ROUGE, La. – Hurricane Isaac survivors in Louisiana who have questions about state and federal disaster assistance should go straight to the source for answers, and contact the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) first.

“We encourage you to act fast and come to us first for the correct information,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Mike Hall of FEMA. “And once you get in touch with us, stay in touch. We’re here to answer any questions you may have.”

Contact FEMA first, if you…

• Received an ineligibility letter and have questions
• Want to know if you’re eligible for the hotel/motel program
• Have questions about insurance deductibles
• Aren’t sure what information you need to have in order to apply for assistance
• Want to know more about your housing inspection
• Wonder why you haven’t heard back from FEMA
• Want to find out what other resources are available to you
• Have any other questions or doubts related to your application for assistance.

Survivors are encouraged to visit a Disaster Recovery Center in their area if they would like to speak directly with a FEMA recovery specialist. There currently are 27 recovery centers open in 18 parishes. A complete list of locations and their operating hours is available at www.fema.gov/disaster/4080.

Louisianians can also call the FEMA helpline at 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 are operating from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

Helplines also are available for survivors who need:  

• Free legal services: 1-800-310-7029;
• Information about flood insurance: 1-866-331-1679;
• Contact with a crisis counselor through a service offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: 1-800-985-5990; and
• Disaster Unemployment Assistance: 1-866-783-5567.

Homeowners, renters and business owners in 21 Louisiana parishes can now apply for federal disaster grants and loans. The parishes are Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Washington and West Feliciana.

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.

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status.  If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call 800-462-7585.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.