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

Fact:

SBA offers loans for homeowners up to $200,000 to repair or replace your primary residence. The loans are customized to your personal financial circumstances. On a case-by-case basis, the SBA may be able to assist with the refinance of your current mortgage(s).

SBA can help renters and homeowners replace household contents (e.g., clothing, furniture and appliances) and vehicles, referred to as personal property.  Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.

Fact:

Qualifying for an SBA loan does not mean you are suddenly ineligible for FEMA assistance. There are several important reasons to complete and submit an SBA application, even if you think you don’t currently need a loan.  For example, you may discover that you were underinsured for the amount of work required to repair or replace your home. An SBA low-interest disaster loan may bridge the gap between your recovery costs and the settlement amount. 

Fact:

Businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets. SBA can also lend additional funds to businesses and homeowners to help with the cost of improvements to protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future.

For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic injury assistance is available to businesses regardless of any property damage.

Fact:

The deadline to file applications for property damage is Oct. 28, 2021. The deadline to return economic injury applications is May 31, 2022.

The SBA has established a Virtual Disaster Loan Outreach Center that is open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Survivors can contact an SBA customer service representative via email at FOCWAssistance@sba.gov or by phone at 800-659-2955. Survivors can apply online at https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov.

Calling 211 connects callers to available resources 24 hours a day, seven days a week...even during disasters. The statewide network works with state agencies and local officials to provide the most current and available information during times of need.  

Lodging Expenses Reimbursement requests are manually reviewed by processing staff. In larger scale disasters, it can take one to two months after receipts are submitted to receive reimbursement.

No. Lodging expenses incurred while residing at the home of family or friends will not be reimbursed.

No. Eligible expenses may include the cost of the room and taxes charged by a hotel or other lodging provider. This does not include costs for food, phone calls, transportation or other miscellaneous expenses.

To be considered for LER, eligible applicants must submit verifiable lodging receipts or itemized statements with the following information: The name of the applicant or co-applicant, information for the lodging provider (name, address and phone number), dates of occupancy and the amount of expenses incurred.

No. LER is reimbursement for out-of-pocket lodging expenses (lodging and tax) that are not covered by insurance benefits like additional living expenses or loss of use. Assistance is not provided directly to the hotel or up-front to the survivor but is reimbursed to the survivor after receipts are provided showing the out of pocket expense when it incurred 

TSA allows eligible survivors to stay temporarily in participating hotels or motels when other housing options are not available after a presidentially declared disaster. TSA-eligible applicants do not receive the cost of their accommodations. The stay is paid for directly from FEMA to the participating lodging provider.

25 Louisiana parishes are designated for FEMA assistance for Hurricane Ida: Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Washington, West Baton Rouge and West Feliciana.

Apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov or call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 (TTY: 800-462-7585) 24 hours, 7 days a week. If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service.