FEMA Help
How do I get help with repairing my home or applying for disaster assistance?
This page provides disaster survivors with important information they should know when seeking assistance from FEMA and other programs. Many legal help organizations join forces after a major disaster to set up disaster legal help hotlines to answer questions about legal issues, including FEMA claims.
- If a disaster legal help hotline has been set up in your area, you can visit the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Disaster Legal Services Program's page here.
- Call 888-743-5749, a national hotline to connect disaster survivors with their local disaster legal help hotlines.
- To find legal help in your area, you can visit www.LawHelp.org.
- ABA Free Legal Answers is an online brief service clinic. When a disaster hits a state, the Free Legal Answers website frequently offers free legal advice to survivors.
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If you received a letter from FEMA saying that you are ineligible for disaster relief or that your application is incomplete, you have the right to appeal the decision. Your ability to appeal is time-sensitive. You only have 60 days from the date on the decision letter to appeal. Visit www.femaappeals.org for an interactive interview tool that will help you create an appeal letter and a file request letter. Check here for Frequently Asked Questions about the appeals process.
Figuring Out FEMA
'Figuring Out FEMA' is a friendly guide that explains FEMA's general disaster relief assistance process.
Learn moreImportant Deadlines
Appeal Your FEMA Decision = 60 days from the date of FEMA’s decision letter
FEMA Appeals FAQs
This is a list of commonly asked questions about the appeals process and other very important information.
Learn moreCreate Your FEMA Appeal Letter
If you need to appeal a FEMA denial on your own, use this interactive form to appeal FEMA and to create a letter requesting a copy of your file.
Learn moreFEMA Claims: Common Errors
This video helps disaster victims and explains how to avoid 5 common mistakes in filing a FEMA claim.
Learn moreSBA Loans
You are no longer required to apply for an SBA loan to be eligible for certain types of FEMA assistance (for disasters that occur on or after 3/22/24).
Learn moreFind Your Disaster
Learn if federal disaster help is available in your area by using FEMA’s disaster search tool.
Learn moreFind your local Disaster Recovery Center (DRC)
FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) are accessible facilities and mobile offices you can visit to learn more about FEMA and other disaster assistance programs. The DRC Locator helps you find the hours, services, and locations of DRCs near you.
Learn more