FEMA Disaster Assistance

Have ready

• your contact information and email address
• your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are staying now
• your Social Security number
• a general list of the damage and losses
• your annual household income
• your bank details, if you want direct deposit
• if you have insurance, the policy number or the name of the agent or company

They may ask

• about the damage and your losses, your household income and your insurance

They can

• take your application online at DisasterAssistance.gov, in the FEMA app or by phone, and let you update it or check its status online
• answer questions about your application or eligibility on the helpline, in more than one language: press 1 for English, 2 for Spanish, 3 for other languages
• take relay calls: 711 or Video Relay Service is available
• point you to a Disaster Recovery Center for in-person help

They cannot

• pay for losses your insurance covers: FEMA cannot duplicate benefits, so file the insurance claim first or at the same time
• make up for everything you lost: FEMA says its help is not a substitute for insurance and cannot compensate for all losses
• charge you: FEMA, SBA and other federal agencies never charge to apply or for help filling in the application, so anyone asking for money is a scam
• help in a life-threatening emergency: call 911 first