Federal Disaster Recovery Programs

Assistance for Individuals and Families

Individuals and Households Program

Grants assist disaster victims whose needs cannot be met through other forms of assistance, such as insurance or other federal programs. Program funds have a wide range of eligible uses, including temporary housing; limited housing repair or replacement; and uninsured medical, dental, or other personal needs (generally referred to as Other Needs Assistance [ONA]).
Agency: Federal Emergency Management Agency
To apply for this program please contact FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or visit:
http://www.fema.gov/assistance/index.shtm

Disaster Unemployment Assistance
Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) provides benefits to previously employed or self-employed individuals rendered jobless as a direct result of a major disaster, and who are not eligible for regular federal/state unemployment compensation (UC). In certain cases, individualswho have no work history or are unable to work may also be eligible for DUA benefits.
Agency: Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration
More information about this program and where to apply for benefits under this program is available at: http://workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/unemploy/disaster.asp or you can call: 1-877-872-5627, TTY number: 1-877-889-5627

Dislocated Worker Activities
The dislocated worker program provides training and related assistance to persons who have lost their jobs and are unlikely to return to their current jobs or  industries.
Agency: Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration For information about the specific services available in your area, contact your local State Dislocated Worker Unit. Contact information for the unit nearest you can be found at: http://www.doleta.gov/layoff/ or https://www.servicelocator.org/ui/ny. You can also call 1-888-209-8124 (New York only) or 877-872-5627 (bilingual services available in some areas).

Physical Disaster Loans—Residential SBA Disaster Loans Available to Homeowners and Renters

SBA’s Home Disaster Loan Program falls into two categories: personal property loans and real property loans. These loans cover only uninsured or underinsured property and primary residences. Loan maturities may be up to 30 years.

Personal Property Loans
A personal property loan provides a creditworthy homeowner or renter with up to $40,000 to repair or replace personal property items, such as furniture, clothing, or automobiles, damaged or lost in a disaster.

Real Property Loans
A creditworthy homeowner may apply for a “real property loan” of up to $200,000 to repair or restore the homeowner’s primary residence to its pre-disaster condition.
Agency: Small Business Administration
For application information, please call 1-800-659-2955, visit http://www.sba.gov/content/home-and-personal-property-loans or email DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov.

Cora Brown Fund

This unique fund directs payments to individuals and groups for disaster-related needs that have not been or will not be met by government agencies or other organizations.
Agency: Federal Emergency Management Agency
To apply for this program please contact FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or visit: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2011-title44-vol1/pdf/CFR-2011-title44-vol1-sec206-181.pdf

Assistance for Victims of Crime

This program offers a variety of services to victims, including emergency travel assistance, assistance with obtaining information, and long-term mental health counseling.
Agency: Office of Justice Programs, Office for Victims of Crime, Department of Justice
Phone: Victim Assistance Center, 1-718-923-4325
Website: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/

Crisis Counseling

This program provides grants that enable states to offer immediate crisis counseling services, when required, to victims of a major federally declared disaster for the purpose of relieving mental health problems caused or aggravated by a major disaster or its aftermath. Assistance is short-term and community-oriented.
Agency: Federal Emergency Management Agency
To find out if your state has a Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program, call the FEMA Helpline 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). For the hearing impaired, please call 1-800-462-7585 or visit: http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/cmhs/EmergencyServices/progguide.asp

Disaster Legal Services

These services offer free legal assistance to individuals affected by a major federal disaster. Types of assistance typically include help with insurance claims, preparing powers of attorney, help with guardianships, and preparing new wills and other lost legal documents.
Agency: Federal Emergency Management Agency
To find out if your State has a Disaster Legal Services program, call the FEMA Helpline 1-800-621-FEMA (1-800-621-3362). For the hearing impaired, please call 1-800-462-7585.
Program Contact Information
For more information, visit:
http://www.abanet.org/disaster/
http://www.disasterlegalaid.org/
http://www.lsc.gov/

Tax Relief

Individuals and businesses located in areas included in major disaster declarations are allowed extra time (four years for homes and two years for business property) to replace property due to involuntary conversion (e.g., destruction from wind or floods, theft, or property ordered to be demolished). Casualty losses can also be deducted against income in the prior tax year, and certain disaster relief grants are not taxable.
Agency: Internal Revenue Service
This tax relief is automatic for affected taxpayers whose address of record is in the Federally declared disaster area. All other affected taxpayers must self identify for disaster relief by contacting the IRS at 1-866-562-5227. For more information about the program, please visit: http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=156138,00.html or contact your local Taxpayer Assistance Center: http://www.irs.gov/localcontacts/index.html

Assistance for State, Territorial, and Local Governments Public Assistance Grants

Hazard Mitigation Grants
The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) provides grants to states to implement mitigation measures after recovery from a disaster and to provide funding for previously identified mitigation measures to benefit the area.
Agency: Federal Emergency Management Agency
To find out if your State has a Disaster Legal Services program, call the FEMA Helpline 1-800-621-FEMA (1-800-621-3362) or visit: http://www.fema.gov/hazard-mitigation-grant-program. For the hearing impaired, please call 1-800-462-7585.

Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grants
This program provides grants and technical assistance to states, territories, and local communities for cost-effective hazard mitigation activities that complement a comprehensive hazard mitigation program and reduce injuries, loss of life, and damage and destruction of property.
Agency: Federal Emergency Management Agency
To find out if your State has a Disaster Legal Services program, call the FEMA Helpline 1-800-621-FEMA (1-800-621-3362) or visit: http://www.fema.gov/pre-disaster-mitigation-grant-program. For the hearing impaired, please call 1-800-462-7585.

Community Disaster Loans
This program provides loans to local governments that have suffered substantial loss of tax and other revenue in areas included in a major disaster declaration. The funds can only be used to maintain existing functions of a municipal operating character.
Agency: Federal Emergency Management Agency
To find out if your State has a Disaster Legal Services program, call the FEMA Helpline 1-800-621-FEMA (1-800-621-3362) or visit:  http://www.fema.gov/community-disaster-loan-program. For the hearing impaired, please call 1-800-462-7585.

Assistance for Small Businesses & Nonprofit Organizations

Economic Injury Disaster Loans
This program assists small businesses suffering economic injury as a result of disasters by offering loans and loan guarantees. Businesses must be located in disaster areas declared by the President, the Small Business Administration, or the Secretary of Agriculture.
Agency: Small Business Administration
For application information, please call 1-800-659-2955, visit http://www.sba.gov/content/economic-injury-disaster-loans or email DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov.

Physical Disaster Loans—Businesses
This program provides loans to small and large businesses in declared disaster areas for uninsured physical damage and losses. The maximum loan amount is $2 million.
Agency: Small Business Administration
For application information, please call 1-800-659-2955, visit http://www.sba.gov/content/business-physical-disaster-loans or email DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov.

For more information about assistance programs please visit: http://www.benefits.gov/