News and Media: Disaster 4559

FEMA Drive-Thru Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) are accessible mobile offices set up in parishes affected by Hurricanes Laura and Delta. They are in convenient spots to allow safe COVID-19 compliant interactions with FEMA staff. Masks or face coverings are required for service. Survivors remain in their cars. A specialist wearing a mask will receive documents through the car window and return them.

You can visit a DRC to learn more about FEMA disaster and recovery assistance. You may also get help to do the following:

Q: I'm a Hurricane Laura survivor who qualified for FEMA direct housing. Why is it taking so long for me to get housing?

BATON ROUGE, La. — Hurricane Laura survivors who live in parishes designated for Direct Temporary Housing assistance and who have been denied temporary housing assistance can appeal that decision. Survivors have 60 days from the date of their determination letter to appeal that decision. However, the deadline to be referred for direct temporary housing assistance is Dec. 31, 2020.

BATON ROUGE, La.– The Disaster Recovery Centers in DeRidder and Natchitoches will close Dec. 3.

The centers are located at:

War Memorial Civic Center

250 W. Seventh St.

DeRidder, LA 70634

Natchitoches Field Area

450 Fifth St.

Natchitoches, LA 71457

Survivors should be alert for con artists and criminals trying to obtain money or steal personal information through fraud, scams or identity theft. In some cases, thieves try to register with FEMA using names, addresses and Social Security numbers they have stolen from survivors.

Phony property inspections:

When a FEMA inspector calls to discuss your damaged home, he or she will require verification of your identity, but will already have your registration number.