Hurricane Ida has devastated Louisiana.
Nearly a million people in the state are still without power, and it might not be restored to some areas for at least a month. Heavy flooding has claimed thousands of homes, creating a shortage of drinking water. Wells Fargo and Fitch Ratings estimate damages from the storm could total $15 to $20 billion.
The storm’s survivors are now in need of assistance as they recover. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has a variety of assistance programs to help. Here’s what’s available—and how to apply for the aid.
How to Apply for FEMA Assistance
The fastest way to get federal assistance is to apply online at Disasterassistance.gov or to call 1-800-621-FEMA. You can also apply on the official FEMA app available on Google Play and the Apple App Store.
If you have insurance, FEMA advises that you’ll need to contact your insurance company first before checking your eligibility for federal assistance. Those with insurance who apply for additional help through FEMA will be required to submit their insurance claim documentation.
Applying for assistance with FEMA will determine your eligibility for a variety of aid, including:
Direct one-time payment
For victims in severe need, immediate relief is available. There are social media reports of individuals already receiving critical needs assistance from FEMA, which provides one-time $500 direct payment per eligible household.
Eligibility criteria for this payment include identity verification, asserting a critical need (such as an inhabitable home due to the hurricane), their primary residence being in a parish eligible for the assistance, and being currently displaced due to the disaster.
Critical needs assistance is a tax-free grant, meaning it doesn’t need to be repaid. The funds must be used for recovery expenses.
Read more about individual assistance eligibility here.
Transitional sheltering assistance
Rumors are circulating that FEMA will pay hotel stays for people displaced by the storm. That is only true in some cases; individuals must apply for aid directly with FEMA and meet eligibility criteria, including owning or renting a damaged or destroyed home in a designated parish.
Rental assistance
Individuals who need a place to live while home repairs happen and those searching for permanent housing can be eligible for rental assistance. Qualified people include those whose homes are uninhabitable due to the hurricane, who agree to relocate and have housing needs not covered by insurance.
Home repair/replacement
Federal assistance may be available if you need an entire home rebuild or even basic repairs. Keep in mind that FEMA housing assistance will only cover basic needs to make a home safe, sanitary and habitable again. A home inspection may be required.
Refer to this website about the FEMA Individuals and Household Program for more information.
FEMA also offers a catalog of other relevant federal assistance programs that survivors may be eligible for. You can filter through its database by category types, such as food and nutrition assistance. Click here to access the catalog.
Should You Apply for Federal Assistance Even If You Have Insurance?
Individuals who have insurance should keep in mind that FEMA cannot provide assistance for losses covered by insurance, and are advised to file a claim for disaster-caused damage with their insurance company.
But that doesn’t mean insured individuals shouldn’t apply for federal assistance at all.
FEMA advises that its assistance only provides basic needs to make a home safe, sanitary and functional. That means windows can be replaced, but not drapes, for example. Only essential equipment, such as air-conditioning and stoves, will be repaired or replaced; items deemed non-essential, such as dishwashers, won’t be covered by federal assistance.
During past disasters, FEMA advised insured individuals to still apply for federal assistance to meet unmet needs not covered by insurance or for those who have exhausted their policy limit.
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