Dear Friend,

How to Apply for FEMA Assistance in Louisiana After Hurricane Francine

Louisiana homeowners and renters in eight parishes who sustained losses caused by Hurricane Francine may be eligible for FEMA disaster assistance.

FEMA may be able to help with serious needs, displacement, temporary lodging, basic home repair costs, personal property loss or other disaster-caused needs. Financial assistance is available to eligible homeowners and renters in Ascension, Assumption, Lafourche, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Mary and Terrebonne parishes.

FEMA’s disaster assistance offers new benefits that provide flexible funding directly to survivors. In addition, a simplified process and expanded eligibility allows Louisianans access to a wider range of assistance and immediate funds for serious needs.

New Benefits Available

• Serious Needs Assistance: A one-time $750 payment per household to help pay for essential items, including water, food, first aid, prescriptions, infantformula, breastfeeding supplies, diapers, consumable medical supplies, durable medical equipment, personal hygiene items and fuel for transportation.
• Displacement Assistance: Money to help with immediate housing needs if you cannot return to your home because of the disaster. The money can be used to stay in a hotel, with family and friends or for other options while you look for temporary housing.

Serious Needs Assistance and Displacement Assistance are both funded after a completed inspection confirms eligibility.

How to Apply to FEMA

Homeowners and renters can apply several ways:

• Go online to disasterassistance.gov.
• Download the FEMA App for mobile devices.
• Call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. CT. Help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service.
• To view an accessible video about how to apply visit: Three Ways to Register for FEMA Disaster Assistance - YouTube.

What You'll Need When You Apply

• A current phone number where you can be contacted
• Your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are now staying
• Your Social Security number
• A general list of damage and losses
• Banking information if you choose direct deposit
• If insured, the policy number or the agent and/or the company name

Additional Assistance

• Streamlined application process so people can apply to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and FEMA at the same time.
• Support for underinsured people to help cover some home repair costs that insurance companies won’t pay for but which the homeowner can’t afford.
• Help for self-employed people to replace disaster-damaged tools and equipment.
• Expanded help to make homes safer after a disaster.
• Help making a home more accessible for people with disabilities.
• Streamlined process for people who need to extend temporary housing assistance.
• Simplified process for appeal of FEMA’s decision, eliminating the need for a signed letter.
• Help for people who need to repair or replace a disaster-damaged computer.

For the latest information visit fema.gov/disaster/4817. Follow the FEMA Region 6 X account at X.com/FEMARegion6 or on Facebook at facebook.com/FEMARegion6/.

Sincerely,

Troy A. Carter, Sr.
Member of Congress