Programs to Support Disaster Survivors (2024)

In addition to the Individuals and Households Program, FEMA has several other programs designed to support disaster survivors.

Mass Care and Emergency AssistanceCrisis Counseling Assistance and Training ProgramCase ManagementLegal ServicesUnemployment AssistanceVoluntary Agency CoordinationReferral ListsAdditional Resources

Mass Care and Emergency Assistance

Mass Care and Emergency Assistance services are provided immediately before a potential incident and during the immediate response to an incident. Staff and resources are deployed to local response centers, and Mass Care and Emergency Assistance services are provided immediately before a potential incident and during the immediate response to an incident. Staff and resources are deployed to response centers located in affected areas.

All impacted survivors are eligible to receive assistance. Activities supported include:

  • Sheltering (congregate and non-congregate)
  • Feeding
  • Distribution of emergency supplies
  • Support to owners and their household pets, service and assistance animals
  • Support to adults and children with disabilities and others with access and functional needs
  • Mass evacuee support
  • Reunification of adults and children

Review ourguidanceandplanning considerationsfor providing mass care during a pandemic.

To search for shelters near you, textSHELTERand yourZIP codeto43362(e.g. Shelter 12345). You may look up shelters any time through theAmerican Red Cross shelter mapor by downloading theFEMA App.

The Commonly Used Sheltering Items (CUSI) Catalogis a compilation of items focused on meeting the needs of survivors in the shelter environment and other congregate settings. FEMA maintains agreements with partners related to these items so that these items can be more easily provisioned during a disaster.

Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program

Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program provides supplemental funding to state, tribal, and territorial governments and non-governmental organizations to assist disaster-impacted individuals and communities in recovering from disasters through community-based outreach and psycho-educational services. The goal is to aid survivors in recovering from the adverse reactions to disasters and to begin to rebuild their lives.Services offered are non-clinical and anonymous, and include supportive crisis counseling, psycho-education, development of coping skills, and linkage to appropriate resources.

Disaster Case Management Program

Disaster Case Management (DCM) is a supplemental award made to a state, tribal, or territorial government or non-governmental organization to assist disaster-impacted individuals and families through the recovery process. DCM involves partnerships between a case manager and a disaster survivor. The intention of this program is to assess and address a survivor’s unmet needs through a disaster recovery plan. This disaster recovery plan includes resources, decision-making priorities, providing guidance, and tools to assist disaster survivors.

Programs to Support Disaster Survivors (3)

Review the toolkit to learn how to apply for the Disaster Case Management Program.

Disaster Legal Services

Disaster Legal Services (DLS) provides legal aid to survivors affected by a presidentially declared major disaster. These services are available to survivors who qualify as low-income and are limited to cases that would not normally incur legal fees. Typically, the types of legal assistance offered include help with insurance claims (e.g. health, property, or life), recovery or reproduction of legal documents lost in the disaster, help with home repairs and disputes with contractors and/or landlords, the preparation of powers of attorney and guardianship materials, and FEMA appeals. DLS is executed in partnership with the American Bar Association Young Lawyers’ Division.

Programs to Support Disaster Survivors (4)

Learn more about Disaster Legal Services on DisasterAssistance.gov's legal services page.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance

Disaster Unemployment Assistance provides unemployment benefits and re-employment assistance services to eligible survivors affected by a presidentially declared major disaster. These services are the responsibility of the U.S. Department of Labor and administered by the affected state, tribal, or territorial workforce agency. DUA is only available to disaster survivors who are not otherwise eligible for unemployment insurance (UI) through their state, tribal, or territorial workforce agency.

Programs to Support Disaster Survivors (5)

Learn more about DUA and eligibility requirements on DisasterAssistance.gov’s Disaster Unemployment Assistance page.

Voluntary Agency Coordination

Voluntary agencies are among the first to provide survivor support services post-disaster and continue to support affected areas throughout the recovery period. The work of these organizations complements federal assistance and may support gaps in coverage. FEMA’s Voluntary Agency Coordinators support communities in conducting unmet needs assessments and organizing early coordination efforts, as well as developing and guiding local long-term recovery groups created to assist individuals and families with the recovery process.

Programs to Support Disaster Survivors (6)

Visit the Volunteer and Donate page to learn more, or email us if you have additional questions.

Referral Lists

Resources may be available to survivors from sources other than FEMA. Visit our state, territory and local and national level referral lists to get additional resources.

National Referral List

Additional Survivor Resources

There are many tools and resources on Ready.gov to help prepare before a disaster or get support after, including:

Please Note

FEMA's Individual Assistance programs are intended to meet only essential needs and are not intended to cover all losses. Some people qualify for assistance from more than one program; you may be receiving additional help from other federal and voluntary agencies. However, you cannot receive assistance for the same exact need from more than one program or entity, including your insurance.

Programs to Support Disaster Survivors (2024)

FAQs

What is the federally assisted disaster relief program? ›

FEMA's Individuals and Households Program (IHP) provides financial assistance and direct services to eligible individuals and households affected by a disaster, who have uninsured or underinsured necessary expenses and serious needs. Assistance for individuals and households. Other programs for disaster survivors.

What do disaster victims need most? ›

A key to recovery from disasters or mass violence is feeling that you have the resources to help you rebuild your life. At the most basic, that means information, food, safety, medical care, and shelter. Other important resources are family, community, school or work, and friends.

What is the FEMA disaster survivor assistance team? ›

DSA is a professional, mobile “force multiplier” that supports Federal, State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial requirements in the field. DSA can quickly deploy in advance of, or immediately following, a Presidential Disaster Declaration.

What agency focuses on providing grants to communities that have suffered through a disaster? ›

Managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), it is the primary source of funding for the federal government's domestic general disaster relief programs. These programs, authorized under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, as amended (42 U.S.C.

What are the three types of disaster relief? ›

Basic disaster assistance from the Federal government falls into three categories: assistance for individuals and businesses, public assistance, and hazard mitigation assistance.

How does FEMA determine payout? ›

When determining the amount of money you will receive, FEMA looks at your actual loss. Actual loss is determined by adding all the physical damage done, and costs necessary to repair that damage. As well as including displacement costs for you while your home is being repaired.

What is FEMA miscellaneous items payment? ›

Child Care: Money to help you pay for increased or child care expenses caused by the disaster. Assistance for Miscellaneous Items: Money to help you pay for specific items, (such as a generator, dehumidifier, chainsaw, etc.) that you purchased or rented after the disaster to assist with recovery.

Who provides federal assistance when natural disasters occur? ›

After a Presidential disaster declaration is made, you may be eligible for disaster assistance, including grant assistance, from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Federal Assistance to Individuals and Households Program (IHP).

What is rehabilitation after disaster? ›

The restoration of basic services and facilities for the functioning of a community or a society affected by a disaster.

What is the most typical form of disaster assistance? ›

For many individuals the SBA disaster loan program is the primary form of disaster assistance. The Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) program provides unemployment benefits and re- employment services to individuals who have become unemployed because of major disasters.

Who is the most vulnerable to disaster? ›

One measure of the strength of a community's response and recovery system is its attentiveness to its most vulnerable citizens–children, the frail elderly, the disabled, and the impoverished and disenfranchised.

What characteristics will help a person to recover quickly after a disaster? ›

The characteristics that will help a person to recover quickly after a disaster are: Positive thinking includes: One must be happy and hopeful, One must be prayerful and friendly, One must be wise and cooperative, One must be resourceful and determined.

What can people do after a disaster? ›

First, if you have damages following a disaster, contact your local emergency manager. Let your local officials know of any damages you may have, and what immediate assistance you may need. Local officials and voluntary organizations are usually the best options for immediate needs such as food and shelter.

What do you do in disaster recovery? ›

Typically, disaster recovery involves securely replicating and backing up critical data and workloads to a secondary location or multiple locations—disaster recovery sites. A disaster recovery site can be used to recover data from the most recent backup or a previous point in time.

What are the symptoms of PTSD after a natural disaster? ›

This can manifest itself as recurring flashbacks or nightmares, social anxiety, depression, feeling constantly on edge, mood swings, avoidance, tension headaches, nausea or trembling, sleep difficulties or eating issues, irritability, chest pain, withdrawal, difficulty making decisions or fear that the event will be ...

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Melvina Ondricka

Last Updated:

Views: 6398

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (48 voted)

Reviews: 95% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Melvina Ondricka

Birthday: 2000-12-23

Address: Suite 382 139 Shaniqua Locks, Paulaborough, UT 90498

Phone: +636383657021

Job: Dynamic Government Specialist

Hobby: Kite flying, Watching movies, Knitting, Model building, Reading, Wood carving, Paintball

Introduction: My name is Melvina Ondricka, I am a helpful, fancy, friendly, innocent, outstanding, courageous, thoughtful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.