Going through the temporary housing process can be slow. FEMA encourages Hurricane Laura survivors to take charge of their recovery and to be proactive to keep things moving.
Ask questions and take charge of your recovery
- Maintain contact with FEMA and your insurance agent.
- Try to get done as much repair work on your damaged home as possible.
- Keep FEMA posted on your progress
Create your housing plan
- A housing plan is developed by the survivor to make decisions such as repairing or rebuilding your home; purchase a new residence or lease an available rental unit.
- This housing plan shows you are moving forward in your recovery and provides a timeline.
- Your plan may look different depending on where you lived before the disaster, and whether you are an owner or renter.
- If you were a renter and trying to find a new rental property.
- Have you looked for available units?
- Some renters may be waiting for their landlord to repair the unit they rented before the disaster. Other renters have continued to pay rent during repairs so the landlord will hold the unit. When does the landlord expect the unit to be ready?
- If you’re a homeowner, your plan may be to repair/rebuild at the same location or purchase a new or replacement home:
- Have you talked to your contractor? What is the timeline?
- Are you moving to a new home? When is your closing?
- Are you purchasing a new/replacement manufactured home? Have you identified a dealer and the home you want to buy?
- If you want to rent instead of own, have you found a place you like? Have you signed a lease?
Remember that temporary housing is exactly that: temporary. It is to give you a place to stay if needed while repairs are being made or until you find a permanent solution to your housing situation.
FEMA can help you create your plan and track your progress and has expanded its services to accommodate your questions about temporary housing units. If you were not provided with a point of contact for your housing needs, you may call the FEMA Helpline and they will take down your information to forward to the Direct Housing Department. The FEMA Helpline may be reached at 800-621-3362. If you use TTY, you may call 800-462-7585, or if you use 711 or Video Relay Service, you may call 800-621-3362. You may also visit a Disaster Recovery Center near you. To find a Disaster Recovery Center visit, fema.govDRCLocator or you can call the FEMA Helpline.
For the latest information on Hurricane Laura, visit https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4559.