Misinformation About FEMA Assistance for Hurricane Ida
As things always seen to go these days with social media and websites just looking for clicks, there is a TON of misinformation out there about the assistance that FEMA may or may not be providing to those affected by the wrath of Hurricane Ida. This comes at a difficult time for thousands of people who are either displaced and living in hotels or are in their homes without electricity and other services that are essential to normal everyday life.
Hopefully these facts below from FEMA will help dispel at least a few of the rumors about Hurricane Ida assistance that have been floating around.
FEMA Rumors and Facts
Rumor: FEMA is paying for hotels if you call 800-621-3362
Fact:
There is a rumor being shared on social media and text messages saying FEMA is paying for hotels for people who evacuated due to the recent storm. FEMA is providing help for eligible individuals and families in designated areas of Louisiana affected by Hurricane Ida, but they must first apply for assistance at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362. You are not able to request hotel room assistance by calling 1-800-621-3362.
Homeowners and renters whose homes were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Ida and who live in a designated parish may be eligible for FEMA assistance, including reimbursement of hotel expenses for uninsured applicants whose homes were uninhabitable during the incident period. Keep copies of your receipts to file with your application. Learn more about what to expect after applying for assistance.
August 30, 2021
Rumor: Call 1-800-621-3342 for FEMA assistance.
Fact:
The correct phone number to apply for disaster assistance is 1-800-621-3362. For a comprehensive list of ways to contact FEMA about disaster assistance, visit DisasterAssistance.gov.
August 30, 2021
Rumor: FEMA will pay for insurance deductibles for disaster survivors.
Fact:
FEMA provides financial benefits to eligible applicants who are not insured or underinsured, but those benefits occur after an insurance settlement. Disaster assistance may include financial assistance for temporary lodging and home repairs, low-interest loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster. FEMA can’t duplicate benefits from insurance or pay your deductible.
August 30, 2021
Rumor: FEMA is giving everyone affected by Hurricane Ida $500.
Fact:
FEMA is providing many different types of help to Hurricane Ida survivors. Different types of assistance may be activated as we work with our state partners to identify needs. One of the available forms of assistance right now is Critical Needs Assistance, which can provide a one-time award of up to $500 to eligible survivors. Housing assistance is also available to eligible survivors.
To be eligible, survivors need to be residents of a parish that was included in the federal disaster declaration, and need to first apply for assistance at DisasterAssistance.gov, through the FEMA app, or by calling (800) 621-3362.
Learn more about FEMA assistance for housing and other needs and what to expect after applying for assistance.
How to File a Claim With Your Insurance Company
For many renters and homeowners, this may be the first time they have ever needed to file an insurance claim. To them, the idea of filing that claim may be daunting. However, it may not be as bad as they think.
If you are a client of Alpha Insurance Agency, then you can go to our file a claim page, which has links directly to the page of each of our carriers where you need to go to file that claim.
Customers of other agencies may also benefit from this link as many of the carriers are the same. If you do not see your carrier listed, you should immediately contact your insurance broker to seek additional assistance.
