Louisiana (DR-4611) Frequently Asked Questions and Rumor Control

We continue to work with federal, state, local, tribal and community partners to support the ongoing response for Ida. As clean up efforts begin, this page offers answers to frequently asked questions and rumors about Louisiana (DR-4611).

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Frequently Asked Questions and Rumors

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If you have already applied for FEMA assistance but were later evicted due to damage to other parts of your home, you should call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 or visit a local FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC), if available. You can contact FEMA even if you were previously not approved for FEMA assistance and FEMA may still be able to help. Check the FEMA App or visit the FEMA DRC Locator to find the locations and hours of operation of the temporary disaster recovery centers. You will need to provide FEMA with documentation demonstrating your eviction was due to the disaster.

Rental Assistance covers the cost of your monthly rent and essential utilities, including gas, electric, water, trash, and sewer. It does not cover phone, internet, or cable TV service.

You may use your Rental Assistance to rent whatever type of housing is best suited to meet your post-disaster temporary housing needs. Applicants typically use Rental Assistance to rent an apartment or house while their home is being repaired or until they find a more permanent post-disaster housing solution.

Your Rental Assistance award amount is based on the Fair Market Rent (FMR) established by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the area in which the rental property is located and the number of bedrooms needed. Rental Assistance awards cannot exceed the HUD FMR amount unless authorized on a disaster-specific basis.

No. They are different.

TSA is a FEMA program that is approved for eligible disasters. It allows for temporary, short-term lodging at a participating hotel/motel, that FEMA pays for directly. Survivors may not request TSA. Those who are eligible will be contacted by FEMA about their eligibility.

If you need short-term lodging at a hotel or motel because you cannot stay at your home due to the disaster, FEMA may be able to reimburse your out-of-pocket lodging expenses (room and tax) through Lodging Expense Reimbursement.

Rental assistance is money to rent alternate housing accommodations, like an apartment, while your home is being repaired or until you find a permanent post-disaster housing solution. For applicants who have a documented, continued temporary housing need, Rental Assistance may be available for up to 18 months from the date of the disaster.

If you received housing assistance from HUD and your home became unlivable because of the disaster, you may be eligible for FEMA temporary housing assistance if there is no available HUD housing after the disaster, and until:

  • you relocate back to public housing;
  • you relocate back to private housing that accepts HUD assistance; or
  • you sign a lease with a private property owner using HUD assistance.

Additionally, financial assistance for pre-disaster, HUD-assisted renters may cover reimbursement for short-term lodging expenses, funds to replace or repair necessary personal property, a vehicle; uninsured funeral, medical, dental, childcare, moving and storage expenses. Uninsured medical and dental expenses may include lost or damaged medical equipment or disaster-caused injuries.

Applicants can upload their receipts online to their DisasterAssistance.gov account. All documents should include the registration and disaster number. Download instructions on how to upload your documents. This information is available in multiple languages.

Survivors can also submit through standard mail at: P.O. Box 10055, Attn: FEMA Hyattsville, MD 20782-8055 

Or Fax 1-800-827-8112 (Cover sheet required)

By law, FEMA cannot duplicate benefits provided through insurance.

Many insurance policies include Additional Living Expenses (ALE) or Loss of Use (LOU) coverage, which provides money to cover temporary housing costs when you are unable to live in your home due to a disaster. If your insurance does not include ALE or LOU, or if the money provided by insurance does not adequately cover your temporary housing need, you can submit your insurance settlement to FEMA for consideration for Rental Assistance.

Displaced renters who need a safe place to stay while they look for longer-term housing may be eligible for short-term hotel stays paid by FEMA under its Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program. Applicants cannot request TSA, but FEMA will identify survivors who may be eligible and have a need for this specific assistance. FEMA will communicate TSA eligibility through a variety of methods including voice; text; and email.

If TSA is approved by your state, territory, or tribal government, the list of participating hotels will be posted on DisasterAssistance.gov. You can also find this information by calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. If you use video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA your number for that service.

Financial assistance for pre-disaster renters may cover reimbursement for short-term lodging expenses, funds to rent temporary housing, funds to replace or repair necessary personal property, a vehicle; uninsured funeral, medical, dental, childcare, moving and storage expenses. Uninsured medical and dental expenses may include lost or damaged medical equipment or disaster-caused injuries.

If Direct Housing Assistance is authorized for the disaster, you may be eligible for Direct Temporary Housing Assistance if you are unable to use financial assistance to secure temporary housing and you have no other housing options available to you.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provides some guidance on renter's rights. Additional help may be available by calling the toll-free legal aid hotline at (800) 310-7029.

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