Hurricane Laura making landfall on the U.S. Gulf Coast. Image by oceanservice.noaa.gov
After both Hurricane Laura and Marco hit U.S. land last week, residents of Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Puerto Rico are in need of emergency services for shelter and repairs.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is the federal agency that provides support for communities and persons in need after a natural disaster.
Various services are given to areas that have been approved by the president via emergency declarations, called a Major Disaster Declaration. These services are split into three main categories, Individual Assistance, Public Assistance, and Hazard Mitigation Assistance:
Individual Assistance- Assistance to individuals and households. These services may include:
Individuals and Households Program
Crisis Counseling Program
Disaster Case Management
Disaster Unemployment Assistance
Disaster Legal Services
Public Assistance- Assistance to state, tribal, and local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities. Each different service is given a different Category name. These services may include:
Category A- Debris removal
Category B- Emergency protective measures
Category C- Roads and bridges
Category D- Water control facilities
Category E- Buildings and equipment
Category F- Utilities
Category G- Parks, recreational, and other facilities
Hazard Mitigation Assistance- Assistance to tribal governments, states and certain private nonprofit organizations for actions taken to prevent or reduce long term risk to life and property from natural hazards.
Areas that have been hit by Hurricane Laura and Marco have been granted the following services:
Individual Assistance is not available in any county.
Category B Public Assistance (emergency protective measures) is provided in Adams, Amite, Covington, Forrest, Franklin, George, Greene, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Jones, Lamar, Lawrence, Lincoln, Marion, Pearl River, Perry, Pike, Stone, Walthall, Wayne, and Wilkinson County.
Individual Assistance is not available in any county.
Category B Public Assistance (emergency protective measures) is provided in Adams, Amite, Covington, Forrest, Franklin, George, Greene, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Jones, Lamar, Lawrence, Lincoln, Marion, Pearl River, Perry, Pike, Stone, Walthall, Wayne, and Wilkinson County.
Emergency Housing
If you are in need of emergency housing assistance, read our FAQs here:
