A letter may increase federal financial assistance for Hurricane Laura survivors to make critical repairs to their home.
Disaster assistance applicants who think FEMA did not approve enough money for home repairs should appeal and provide a letter from a contractor or local government official. FEMA may then consider increasing financial assistance for the survivor to make their home habitable.
The letter from the contractor or local government official should be on letterhead and include the official’s or contractor’s contact information. It should specify the hurricane-related damage, whether the home is habitable and estimate the amount for home repairs.
If a contractor or local government official determines a home is not livable, the survivor may also qualify for help paying for somewhere to stay.
Homeowners may receive FEMA grants to repair homes only if the damage is related to Hurricane Laura. Assistance provides the basic needs for a survivor’s primary residence to be safe, sanitary and functional to make it habitable.
Everybody has a right to appeal their FEMA determination.
Submit your appeal documents in one of four ways:
- Upload your documents to your DisasterAssitance.gov account
- Mail your documents
FEMA National Processing Service Center
P.O. Box 10055
Hyattsville, MD 20782-7055
- Fax your documents to 800-827-8112
- Submit in person at a FEMA drive-thru Disaster Recovery Center. Masks or face coverings are required for entry and service and you will remain in your car. A specialist wearing a face mask will receive your documents through your car window, scan them to your account and return them to you. Find your closest center by calling 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585, going online to disasterassistance.gov or by downloading the FEMA app.
No matter which way you submit your appeal, it’s important to follow these two instructions:
- You must submit or postmark the documents from the contractor or local government official within 60 days of receiving your FEMA determination letter.
- Attach the cover letter you received from FEMA about your denial.
Survivors who have any questions about appealing FEMA determination letters should call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 (FEMA) or TTY 800-462-7585 for the speech- and hearing-impaired. If you use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services, call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone lines operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. CDT, seven days a week.
Spend Grants Wisely
Disaster grants should not be used for travel, entertainment, regular living expenses or any discretionary expenses not related to the disaster. Survivors should keep receipts for three years to show how they spent FEMA grants.
If grant money is not used as outlined in the letter, survivors may have to repay FEMA and could lose eligibility for further federal assistance to help them with their Hurricane Laura recovery.
For the latest information on Hurricane Laura, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4559 or follow the FEMA Region 6 Twitter account at twitter.com/FEMARegion6.