Disaster Relief Assistance

Page last updated: 11/22/05  

FEMA disaster relief assistance
Victims should be encouraged to include information regarding disabilities or chronic health care needs on their FEMA applications in order to receive the full range of federal disaster relief assistance.

FEMA registration numbers.
1/800-621-FEMA
1/800-462-9029
1/800-462-7585 TDD/TYY
http://www.fema.gov/about/process/

Federal representative contact information

Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities (ICC)
http://www.dhs.gov/disabilitypreparedness.html

Chair - Department of Homeland Security, Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
Daniel W. Sutherland
Daniel.Sutherland@dhs.gov
(202) 772-9816

Claudia L. Gordon
Claudia.Gordon@dhs.gov
(202) 358-2392 (TTY)
(202) 772-0910 (Voice)

Olegario "Ollie" D. Cantos VII, Chairperson - ICC Technical Assistant and Outreach Subcommittee
Ollie.Cantos@usdoj.gov
(202) 616-7920

REGION 4 & 6 (AL, LA, MS & TX)

Lex Frieden, Chairperson - National Council on Disability (NCD)
lfrieden@bcm.tmc.edu
(713) 520-0232, Ext. 124
http://www.ilru.org/html/whatsnew/announcements/katrina.html

Deadline to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) Extended to November 30, 2005

Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against FEMA for Delays in Providing Assistance
http://www.lawyerscomm.org/2005website/publications/press/press111005.html

Complaint: http://www.srz.com/files/KatrinaComplaint1.pdf

Contact information for Hurricane Katrina Disaster Victims who are residents of AL, LA or MS, worked as an employee, or were self-employed, in any one or more of the three states, and are calling from a different state:

If the caller indicates they are not in Alabama, Louisiana, or Mississippi:

• To file a Unemployment Insurance (UI) or Disaster Unemployment
  Assistance (DUA) claim when the individual indicates they worked in Alabama use the phone numbers provided by Alabama:
  
• To file a UI or DUA claim they can call 1-866-234-5382 to file a claim.
  
• To file a claim in Alabama using the TYY/TDD call 1-800-499-2035.
  
• For general questions about UI or DUA in Alabama call 1-800-361-4524.
  
• To file a UI or DUA claim when the individual indicates they worked or were self-employed in Louisiana or when the individual indicates they worked or were self-employed in Mississippi they should contact the state where they are currently located. The state where the individual is at the time of the call will take an Interstate claim.
  
  • Applicants can access http://ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/ which provides a map of state web sites providing information about how claims are taken in that state. This site also provides access to America's Service Locator which provides office locations based upon the applicant's current zip code.

Contact information for Hurricane Katrina Disaster Victims - Caller is a resident of AL, LA or MS, worked as an employee, or was self-employed, in any one or more of the three states, and is calling from within AL, LA, or MS

Resource: Contact information for Disaster Victims - Alabama

If the caller indicates they are in Alabama, or they worked or were self-employed in Alabama:

• To file a UI or DUA claim they can call 1-866-234-5382 to file a claim.
  
• To file a claim in Alabama using the TYY/TDD call 1-800-499-2035.
  
• For general questions about UI or DUA in Alabama call 1-800-361-4524.

Resource: Contact information for Disaster Victims - Louisiana

If the caller indicates they are in Louisiana:

• To file a UI or DUA claim they can use the Internet at www.LAWORKS.net or they may go to a One-Stop Career Center (use the service locator to find the Center nearest the individual's residence).
  
• People filing as a direct result of Hurricane Katrina can call 1-800-818-7811.
  
• All other customers can call 1-866-783-5567 or 1-800-LAHELPU.

Resource: Contact information for Disaster Victims - Mississippi

If the caller indicates they are in Mississippi:

• To file a UI or DUA claim they can go to a One-Stop Career Center.
  
• 1-888-844-3577

Additional Information

Individuals who need verification of their earnings for DUA claims can contact the IRS at 1-866-562-5227 from 7:00 a.m. through 10:00 p. m. EDT to request this information.