Helpful Resources For People Impacted By Hurricane Season

4 Min Read
Updated Dec. 14, 2023
FACT-CHECKED
Written By
Miranda Crace
Palm trees blowing as a storm rolls in.

This list of resources may be helpful.

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Temporary Shelter And Assistance

Your primary concerns may be where to sleep and find assistance with basic needs in the wake of the storm. The local chapters of the American Red Cross are providing help in the form of:

  • Evacuation shelters
  • Water, food and other relief items
  • First aid and other medical care
  • Plans to help with the recovery after the storm

For more information, you can call (800) 733-2767 or find your local Red Cross chapter online.

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Emergency Response Centers

If state or federal officials have declared a disaster in your area, local offices should be set up to help with the response to the storm. They can give you information on any disaster-related assistance that may be available in your area. In many cases, these offices can even help with finding grants for the rebuilding process.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has a list of local emergency offices in declared disaster areas that you can register with. You can also contact FEMA directly at (800) 621-3362. TTY service for the deaf and hard of hearing is available at (800) 462-7585. 

Other FEMA Resources

FEMA also operates DisasterAssistance.gov. On this site, you can run a search in your area for assistance with everything from housing and temporary shelter to food and nutrition resources in the wake of the storm. This site also has legal, medical and employment resources.

You can start by filling out a simple questionnaire to match you with the appropriate resources. From there, there are options to apply online for assistance.

The Rebuilding Process

Once the storm is over and you’re looking to put everything back together, there are a lot of resources out there to help you. One option we’ll go over is backed by the government. Then we’ll touch on the basics of submitting a homeowners insurance claim.

SBA Disaster Loans

The U.S. Small Business Administration provides loans for disaster recovery to businesses of any size as well as private nonprofits, homeowners and renters. These loans cover the following:

  • Real estate
  • Personal property
  • Machinery and equipment
  • Inventory and business assets

You can apply for these loans if you’re in an SBA-declared disaster area.

Homeowners may apply for up to $200,000 to repair or replace their primary residence. The loan isn’t for additions or improvements (beyond bringing things up to code), but you can use it to restore the property to its original condition.

Homeowners can also apply for a loan of up to $40,000 in order to replace personal property which may include furniture, vehicles, appliances and other items.

Making A Homeowners Insurance Claim

Another avenue to repair or replace damaged items and fund reconstruction after the storm is to submit a homeowners insurance claim. There are a few things you should be aware of at this point.

You need to determine whether your homeowners insurance policy covers flood damage, as many don’t. The easiest way to get this information is to call your insurance carrier directly.

In the event you’re not covered, you should look at applying for one of the disaster relief grants or loans mentioned above. Otherwise, you can proceed with making a claim by following your insurance company’s guidelines.

Keep a record of your losses and take photos if possible. Be very thorough.

If you currently have a mortgage, your lender needs to sign off on claims above a certain dollar amount because Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the FHA and other major mortgage investors need to make sure the property is restored to a condition that’s as good as or better than when you bought it.

The claims process will go smoother if you contact your insurance company first. After that, you can go ahead and contact your mortgage lender. They’ll work with you during the claims process to make sure everything happens as it should.

For more information on homeowners insurance, check out this post on filing a claim.

Mortgage Payment Assistance

If you’re able to make your mortgage payment, we recommend doing so, but these storms often leave people in a difficult situation, particularly if you’ve been displaced. If you anticipate having trouble making your mortgage payment in the upcoming month, reach out to your lender or servicer as soon as possible.

Our thoughts are with you during this difficult time.

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