Frequently Asked Questions About Disasters

Rental Assistance is meant to be used to rent temporary housing—an apartment or house—while your home is being repaired or until you find a more permanent post-disaster housing solution. If you use your Rental Assistance on a hotel or motel stay, and later need help renting temporary housing, FEMA may not be able to help you with additional Rental Assistance unless you have a lease or rental agreement.

If you need help paying short-term lodging costs at a hotel or motel, FEMA may be able to reimburse your out-of-pocket lodging expenses separately from Rental Assistance. You can request Lodging Expense Reimbursement by contacting FEMA and sending your lodging receipts. FEMA can only reimburse you for lodging costs and taxes; we cannot help with room service, long-distance phone calls, or other optional charges.

Rental Assistance award amounts are based on the Fair Market Rent (FMR) established by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the area in which the rental property is located and the number of bedrooms needed. Rental Assistance awards cannot exceed the HUD FMR amount unless authorized on a disaster-specific basis.

Yes. You may qualify for FEMA disaster assistance even if you have insurance. However, you will need to file a claim with your insurance provider and submit the insurance settlement or denial letter to FEMA to determine your eligibility for some forms of assistance. 

By law, FEMA cannot duplicate benefits for losses covered by your insurance.

To protect yourself from fraud and identity theft, we encourage you to be careful when sharing your personal information.

If you believe you are a victim of identity theft, or someone applied to FEMA using your personal information, please call 800-621-3362. Do not contact the FEMA Fraud Investigations and Inspections Division, DHS Office of Inspector General, or the National Center for Disaster Fraud for the purpose of reporting identity theft.

Report any other types of disaster fraud by emailing StopFEMAFraud@fema.dhs.gov. For more information, visit the disaster fraud page.

If you need help accessing your online account or are experiencing other technical issues, call the Internet Help Desk at 800-745-0243.

Technical support specialists will help you gain access to your account but cannot view your application or answer specific questions regarding FEMA disaster assistance application.

FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) are temporary offices set up after a disaster to provide support to impacted areas and communities. These offices may assist with the application process, answer questions about your application, and help you submit information to FEMA. You may also visit other disaster support partners (Small Business Administration, the Red Cross, etc.) at a DRC.

FEMA may provide financial assistance to help cover your moving and/or storage expenses.

FEMA may provide financial assistance to address new or increased disaster-caused child care expenses for eligible households with:

• Children aged 13 and under; and/or
• Children up to age 21 with a disability, as defined by Federal law.

Tap water may be contaminated and not safe to use or drink after a disaster.

• Follow your state, local, or tribal health department for specific recommendations regarding boiling or treating water in your area.
• Do not drink, wash dishes, brush your teeth, wash and prepare food, wash your hands, make ice, or mix baby formula with water you think -- or have been told -- is unsafe.
• If water in your area is contaminated, use bottled, boiled, or treated water for drinking, cooking, and personal hygiene.

To learn more, visit the Environmental Protection Agency’s guide on Emergency Disinfection of Drinking Water

The hours of operation at FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) vary by location.  Please visit the DRC Locator to help you find you find the hours, services, and locations of local DRCs.

FEMA Home Repair Assistance is limited and is intended to provide funds for basic repairs to make the home livable. It is not the same as insurance and in most cases, it cannot restore your home to its pre-disaster condition.

To find more information for other resources, visit the Voluntary and Community-Based Organizations page.