Frequently Asked Questions About Disasters

This page offers answers to frequently asked questions about Individual Assistance for disaster survivors.

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

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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 lodging 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 your insurance does not cover all your lodging expenses, you can submit your insurance documentation to FEMA to be considered for Lodging Expense Reimbursement.

FEMA may be able to provide Lodging Expense Reimbursement (LER)  for out-of-pocket lodging expenses, but only if these expenses are not covered through other means, such as insurance.

To be considered for LER, you must meet basic eligibility criteria for assistance and FEMA must verify that your home is unlivable, inaccessible, or affected by an extended disaster-caused utility outage. You must also submit verifiable documentation, such as receipts, of your lodging expenses.

Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) is a FEMA program that allows for temporary, short-term accommodations for eligible applicants when other housing options are not available.

Assistance is available for eligible survivors, including renters, with uninsured and underinsured necessary expenses and serious needs. This may include funds to replace or repair necessary personal property, a vehicle, uninsured or out-of-pocket medical, dental, childcare, moving and storage expenses.

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.

If you have exhausted your initial Rental Assistance and still need help with temporary housing costs, you may apply for Continued Temporary Housing Assistance (CTHA).

To be considered for CTHA, you must fill out and submit the Application for Continued Temporary Housing Assistance.  You will also need to send documentation to demonstrate that you used your previously awarded Rental Assistance for its intended purpose.

CTHA is typically awarded in three-month increments. Based on need and verifiable documentation, FEMA may award CTHA for up to 18 months, or the end of the 18-month period of disaster assistance, whichever comes first.

  • Internet or Smartphone Application: Apply Online at DisasterAssistance.gov
  • By phone: You may call FEMA toll-free at 1-800-621-3362 to apply for assistance or check your application status. If you use a video relay service, captioned telephone service, or other communication services, please provide FEMA the specific number assigned for that service.
  • In Person: If open and available, you may visit a FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC). To look up DRC locations:

You must appeal within 60 days of the date on your decision letter.

Before setting up an online account, you need to answer four security questions to verify your identity. These questions come from data available in public records.

To find the closest DRC, use the DRC Locator

Or text DRC and a ZIP Code to 43362. Example: DRC 01234 (standard text messaging rates apply).

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