During the 2019 hurricane season, knowing how to prepare and where to find resources for disaster relief is important. Free and easy to use websites, such as Ready.gov and DisasterAssistance.gov, provide tools and information on both preparation and post-storm assistance.
Our Partner, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Ready.gov, offers the following tips on how to prepare for a hurricane and stay safe:
- Stay informed and identify your community’s warning system. You can sign up for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Radio for local alerts and emergency warnings.
- Prepare to evacuate by learning your local evacuation route and finding an emergency shelter location that meets Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) standards.
- Create your family emergency communication plan. Make sure you have phone numbers written down to get in touch with your family when a hurricane occurs.
- Protect your property against wind and water damage. Reinforce doors, windows, and roofs, and make sure to keep gutters and drains free of debris. If you are a renter, talk with your landlord about steps you can take together to protect your home.
Benefits.gov offers information on a variety of resources to help if you have been affected by not just a hurricane, but floods, wildfires, tornados, etc. The following programs, located in the Disaster Relief category, may be able to assist you with your recovery:
Disaster Assistance and Emergency Relief Program:
When the federal government declares a location to be a major disaster area, certain tax law provisions may help taxpayers and businesses recover financially. Both individuals and businesses in a federally declared disaster area can get a faster tax refund by claiming losses related to the disaster on their tax return for the previous year.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance:
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Disaster Unemployment Assistance program provides unemployment benefits to individuals who have become unemployed as a direct result of a Presidentially declared major disaster.
Home and Property Disaster Loans:
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) provides affordable, timely and accessible financial assistance to homeowners and renters in a declared disaster area. Assistance is available in the form of low-interest, long-term loans for losses not fully covered by insurance.
Business Physical Disaster Loans:
If you are in a declared disaster area and have experienced damage to your business, you may be eligible for financial assistance from the SBA. Businesses of any size and most private nonprofit organizations may apply to the SBA for a loan to recover after a disaster.
National Flood Insurance Program:
FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program allows homeowners, business owners, and renters in participating communities to purchase federally-backed flood insurance. This insurance can help with the costs of repairing flood damage to buildings and their contents.
To check your eligibility for these disaster relief programs, we encourage you to take our Benefit Finder questionnaire.
