How Can FEMA Help Storm Damage Victims Recover From the Aftermath?

1/2/2019 (Permalink)

When a natural disaster or major storm, such as a flood or tornado, sweeps through and damages an area, some of the first people on the ground work for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. FEMA, as the agency is commonly called, provides many different forms of assistance, including but not limited to the following:

• Housing assistance (rent, home repairs, home replacement, etc.)
• Help with repairing or replacing personal property
• Financial assistance with funeral expenses
• Medical, dental and childcare assistance
• Moving and storage expenses
• Assistance to repair or replace vehicles

In addition to helping repair physical damage, the agency also provides assistance for damages that arise as a result of the physical damage.

Unemployment and Reemployment Services

After a flooding or other natural disaster in Livingston, LA, it is not uncommon for individuals to need to relocate and/or take time off work. If an individual is forced to take time off, his or her employer may be forced to let him or her go. FEMA provides unemployment benefits and reemployment services to individuals who are forced to take time off or relocate post disaster.

Crisis Counseling

The agency also offers crisis counseling to individuals and whole communities who have suffered great loss as a result of the disaster. It does this by funding and sometimes hosting community-based outreach programs and educational services.

Disaster Legal Services

Often, the individuals who need disaster assistance are low-income. These individuals generally cannot afford legal services if they need them for their disaster related needs. The federal agency helps these individuals secure legal services when they're needed.

Additional Services

In addition to providing the aforementioned types of assistance, FEMA also partners with other government agencies, as well as non-government agencies, to meet the needs of disaster survivors. If the agency cannot meet your unique needs, you can talk with a representative to see if one of its partner agencies can. You can also talk to your local storm damage restoration team regarding types of assistance available.