Help Is Just a Phone Call Away for Louisiana Flood Survivors

BATON ROUGE, La. — Survivors of Louisiana’s August floods can always get help with just one phone call.

Call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 for information about many federal disaster assistance-related matters. Lines are open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Call 800-462-7585 if you use TTY or 800-621-3362 if you use 711 or Video Relay Service.

Here are some of the many ways the helpline can support your disaster recovery:

  • Learn about Manufactured Housing Units (MHUs) and where you are in the process if you’re interested in getting one.

  • Get instructions about how to appeal your FEMA decision letter. Everyone may appeal.

  • Register for federal disaster assistance. FEMA allows one registration per household. Households should register only once.

  • Inquire about the status of your registration.

  • Update contact and insurance information to avoid disaster assistance processing delays.

  • Reschedule FEMA home inspections.

Have your nine-digit FEMA registration number available if you want to discuss your application.

Have the following information available if you haven’t registered:

  • Date of loss;

  • Social Security number;

  • Current mailing address and damaged home address, including ZIP codes;

  • Telephone numbers;

  • Names of household members at the time of the disaster;

  • Insurance information;

  • Total gross income for the household;

  • Bank account numbers if you want to have money deposited directly; and

  • Loss descriptions.

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Help Is Just a Phone Call Away for Louisiana Flood Survivors

FEMA Helpline Can Answer Many Questions for Flood Survivors

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina residents affected by Oct. 1-23 storms and flooding can get information and answers to questions by calling the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s helpline.

Residents can call the helpline at 800-621-3362. Lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice. Survivors who use TTY may call 800-462-7585; those who use 711/VRS can call 800-621-3362. They can also visit www.disasterassistance.gov.

FEMA will accept applications for federal disaster assistance until 11:59 p.m. Monday, Jan. 4, 2016. Because the Jan. 3 deadline falls on a Sunday, the agency will allow flood survivors to register the following business day.

The helpline provides many services. Survivors can use the helpline to:

  • Register for federal assistance. Households should register only once.

  • Ask questions about FEMA decision letters.

  • Learn how to appeal FEMA decision letters. All applicants may appeal.

  • Inquire about the status of a registration.

  • Provide change of address, telephone and bank account numbers and insurance information to avoid disaster assistance processing delays.

  • Receive information about FEMA home inspections.

  • Get questions answered about federal disaster assistance and the application process.

Applicants should have their nine-digit FEMA registration number and ZIP Code if they want to discuss their application.

Survivors should have the following information before registering:

  • Date of loss

  • Social Security number

  • Current mailing address and damaged home address, including ZIP Code

  • Telephone numbers

  • Names of household members at the time of the disaster

  • Insurance information

  • Total gross income for the household

  • Bank account numbers if they want to have money deposited directly, if eligible

  • Loss descriptions

For the latest information on South Carolina flood recovery, visit scemd.org and fema.gov/disaster/4241.

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FEMA Helpline Can Answer Many Questions for Flood Survivors

FEMA Reminds Survivors: One Call Gets You In

COLUMBIA, S.C. –Survivors of South Carolina flooding Oct. 1-23 can get help with one phone call.

Call the Federal Emergency Management Agency helpline at 800-621-3362 for information about many federal disaster assistance-related matters. Lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Survivors who use TTY may call 800-462-7585; those who use 711/VRS can call 800-621-3362. They can also visit www.disasterassistance.gov.

During the holiday period, FEMA encourages residents to assist South Carolina recovery by passing along to those affected by storms and flooding the various ways the helpline can assist them. They can:

  • Register for federal disaster assistance by the Friday, Dec. 4 deadline. FEMA allows one registration per household. Households should register only once.

  • Ask questions about FEMA decision letters.

  • Learn how to appeal FEMA decision letters. All applicants may appeal.

  • Inquire about the status of a registration.

  • Provide change of address, telephone and bank account numbers and insurance information to avoid disaster assistance processing delays.

  • Receive information about FEMA home inspections.

  • Get questions answered about federal disaster assistance and the application process.

Applicants should have their nine-digit FEMA registration number available if they want to discuss their application.

Survivors should have the following information before registering:

  • Date of loss

  • Social Security number

  • Current mailing address and damaged home address, including Zip Codes

  • Telephone numbers

  • Names of household members at the time of the disaster

  • Insurance information

  • Total gross income for the household

  • Bank account numbers if they want to have money deposited directly if eligible

  • Loss descriptions

For the latest information on South Carolina flood recovery operations, visit scemd.org and fema.gov/disaster/4241.

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FEMA Reminds Survivors: One Call Gets You In

FEMA Assistance Based on Individual Loss, Needs

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Alabama residents eligible for Individual Assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency need to know that the help they may receive will be based on their own unique circumstances and needs. 

“While not everyone may qualify, our ultimate goal is for anyone who suffered damages from the tornadoes, storms, straight-line winds and flooding to receive the maximum assistance he or she qualifies for,” said Albie Lewis, federal coordinating officer for FEMA’s disaster operations in Alabama.

Disaster assistance to individuals is based on a number of factors, and FEMA and Alabama Emergency Management Agency specialists are trained to seek out and coordinate the eligible assistance from a number of sources. Assistance might include direct financial grants, low-interest loans, charitable contributions from voluntary agencies and/or other resources that will help residents who are recovering from the disaster.

The unique needs of everyone who registers are evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine the types of assistance that are best suited to that individual registrant. The process, and final assistance determination, is set by federal regulation and is strictly confidential. Realistically, not everyone who registers will qualify for assistance.

Assistance could include grants to help pay for temporary housing needs, essential home repairs and other disaster-related expenses. Low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration also may be available to cover uncompensated residential and business losses.

The first step in the process is registering with FEMA. This is true, whether the loss is large or small and whether or not an individual anticipates being eligible for federal assistance.

There are three ways to register – go to www.disasterassistance.gov, to m.fema.gov or call FEMA toll-free, 800-621-3362 (FEMA).  Those with access or functional needs and who use a TTY may call 800-462-7585 or use 711 or Video Relay Service to call 800-621-3362. Telephone lines are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. CT; multilingual operators are available.

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FEMA Assistance Based on Individual Loss, Needs