Dos:
- Do file a claim with your insurance company.
- Do register for FEMA disaster assistance. Register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling toll-free 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585. If you use 711 or VRS, you may call 800-621-3362.
- Do know that FEMA grants may help pay for a temporary place to stay, make essential repairs or replace certain damaged contents.
- Do inspect for structural damage before entering your home.
- Do report flood damage to local officials.
- Do throw away wet contents such as bedding, carpeting and furniture. These items may be a health hazard due to mold. If you need to keep a sample of damaged carpet or drywall for an inspector, it should be about 12 inches by 12 inches.
- Do take photographs of flood damage. The insurance company may want to see these.
- Do keep recovery-related receipts. FEMA, SBA or the insurance company may want to see these.
- Do submit a completed application for a low-interest disaster loan if you have been referred to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). SBA low-interest disaster loans are available to businesses, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters that have been impacted as a result of the disaster. Submitting the SBA application is necessary for FEMA to consider you for certain grants.
- Do remember that FEMA grants do not need to be repaid, are not taxed and do not affect other government benefits.
Don’ts:
- Don’t submit more than one registration per household.
- Don’t wait for visits from FEMA or insurance adjusters before cleaning up flood damage and starting repairs.
- Don’t wait for an insurance settlement to register.
- Don’t worry that federal disaster assistance is taking money away from someone else. FEMA provides assistance to all eligible applicants.
- Don’t assume only homeowners can apply for help. Renters may qualify for assistance too.
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FEMA's mission is to help before, during and after disasters.
Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call 800-462-7585.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s website at SBA.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.