If you live in an area the President has designated as a disaster area, you may be eligible for various disaster assistance programs. Disaster assistance is money or other assistance to individuals, families and businesses whose property has been damaged or destroyed and whose losses are not covered by insurance. This assistance is meant to help with critical expenses that cannot be covered in other ways. It is not intended to restore your property to its condition before the disaster.
Most government assistance programs require that you apply for disaster assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA). Money and services are provided through the Individuals and Households Program (IHP). Low-interest loans are provided through the Small Business Administration (SBA) for homeowners and renters. Most assistance will be in the form of loans.
- Replacing Personal Documents after a Disaster
- After the Disaster – Consideration for Older Adults ( En Español )
- Caring for Important Papers after a Flood ( En Español )
- Financial Recovery: Homeowner’s Property Insurance Issues ( En Espanol )
- Obtaining Disaster Assistance for Farms and Ranches ( En Español )
- Obtaining Disaster Assistance for Individuals and Families ( En Español )
- Obtaining Disaster Assistance for Public Infrastructure ( En Español )
- Obtaining Disaster Assistance for Small Businesses and the Self-Employed ( En Español )
- Managing your Money in Tough Times
- Preventing Fraud Following a Disaster ( En Español )
- Financial Security: Money Management in Times of Disaster
Additional Resources:
- Farmers.gov – Discover Disaster Assistance Programs
- Texas Rural Mediation Services
- Top 10 Tips for Deducting Losses from a Disaster
- Disasters & Financial Planning Guide
- Recovery After Disaster: The Family Financial Toolkit
- Disaster Assistance for Individuals and Families
- Get Help from the American Red Cross
- Understanding Individual Assistance & Public Assistance
- Replacing Vital Documents & Personal Records
- Hurricane Vehicle and Watercraft Fraud: Don’t Be a Victim
- Taxpayers can follow these steps after a disaster to reconstruct records
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Tax Relief in Disaster Situations
- Redeem Mutilated Currency