Articles
- Managing Financial Assistance and Insurance Payouts While Waiting to Rebuild
- What to Do If Relief Assistance and Insurance Payouts Aren’t Enough
- Places to Avoid Turning If Possible
- When You May Not Have Enough Money: Turning to Friends, Families and Others
- If Your Job Was Affected
- Finding a Contractor
- Making Future Home Renovations for Safety
- Evaluating Homeowners and Renters Insurance
- Considering Disaster Insurance
- Tax Implications of Sudden Property Loss or Damage
- Having a Family Emergency Plan
- Creating a Personal Disaster Kit
- How to Help Others
- Rebuilding After a Widespread Disaster
- Consider if rebuilding is the best option.
- Be prepared for a lengthy insurance payout process.
- Only work with reputable organizations, businesses and agencies.
- Manage your financial assistance and insurance payouts wisely while waiting to rebuild.
- Find a reputable contractor.
- Work with your employer to keep or make adjustments to your job.
- Claim tax benefits you may be eligible for due to the disaster.
- Find local recovery support systems.
- Make your home safer to better stand a potential future disaster.
- Assistance for Those Affected by the Gulf Oil Spill and Preparation Tips for Unexpected Emergencies
Helping People Obtain Federal Assistance after Hurricane Katrina
Expedited federal funds for immediate needs are on the way for people whose primary residence was affected by Hurricane Katrina. Hurricane victims can apply for $2,000 in immediate federal assistance from FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) by applying online at FEMAs website or calling 1-800-621-FEMA (1-800-621-3362); TTY 1-800-462-7585 for speech or hearing impaired applicants. Operators are available to help 24 hours a day. Due to the high volume of calls, FEMA suggests that applicants call during non-peak hours.
This first installment of $2,000 is intended to help hurricane victims meet their immediate financial needs including housing, food, clothing, personal needs and medical necessities, but there are no limits on what the funds are used for. The $2,000 in immediate funds is an expedited portion of up to $26,500 in total benefits for which victims may be eligible through the FEMA "Individuals and Household Program (IHP)." Hurricane victims can choose to receive the $2,000 in one of two ways:
Individuals can request for the $2,000 to be deposited in an existing bank account of their choice. The funds will be electronically transferred into their account.
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Individuals can request a $2,000 check to be sent to them in their name to the location of their choice via the U.S. Postal Service. If mail cannot be delivered to your address, or if you are unable to receive delivery at your permanent address, you may file a change of address form electronically at the US Postal Service or by telephone 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777). The U.S. Postal Service website also provides delivery service updates and locations of temporary postal facilities/addresses where mail can be received.
To receive funds, individuals will need some form of identification IF possible, including a Social Security number, address, gross household income and forms of insurance held at the time of the disaster. If you or your loved one does not have any identification, FEMA can use aerial photographs of your neighborhood to confirm that you were forced to evacuate.
To begin the process of applying for disaster assistance from FEMA, register online or call FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362); TTY for speech and hearing impaired applicants is 1-800-462-7585
People who cannot work or who have lost their jobs due to the disaster may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA), which provides benefits to individuals who are unemployed but not eligible for regular unemployment insurance compensation. Visit the FEMA website or inquire at a local unemployment office.
If you have lost a spouse or job due to a disaster you can also visit our Unwantedchange.org site for comfort, encouragement and practical tools to begin working through this difficult time.