WHAT WILL FEMA WANT TO KNOW WHEN I APPLY FOR DISASTER ASSISTANCE?
[https://www.fema.gov/fact-sheet/what-will-fema-want-know-when-i-apply-disaster-assistance]


Release Date: 
Jan 30, 2025 

Release Number: 
FS 010 

Filling out a FEMA application can be unsettling when you are still
experiencing the results of a natural disaster firsthand. It helps to
know in advance what information and documents you’ll need to
provide to verify your identity, occupancy, and other details related
to your disaster-caused losses. Below are helpful details on what data
and documents will be needed to apply with FEMA.

INFORMATION NEEDED WHEN YOU APPLY FOR FEMA DISASTER ASSISTANCE:

	* Your phone number and the address, including zip code, of the
damaged property
	* Contact information after the disaster, including phone number,
alternate residential address or email address to receive electronic
notifications  
	* Your Social Security number 
	* Insurance information, including settlement letter if you received
it
	* Condition of your damaged home, if known, and personal property
losses
	* Your annual household income (for possible referrals)
	* Bank account information, if you would like your assistance
provided via direct deposit

DOCUMENTS NEEDED TO VERIFY:

	* IDENTITY: Your Social Security number, state driver's license,
state ID, or voter registration card

	* OWNERSHIP AND VITAL RECORDS _(BIRTH, DEATH, MARRIAGE)_: Los Angeles
County residents directly impacted by the fires can request property
records and vital records at no cost to support their recovery. 
Contacts:

	* VITAL RECORDS: (888) 985-9913
	* PROPERTY RECORDS: (800) 201-8999, option 3
	* EMAIL FOR BOTH: RRCCFireAssistance@rrcc.lacounty.gov

	* OCCUPANCY: FEMA will usually verify your occupancy and ownership
through a public records search. If they can't, they may ask you to
provide additional documents such as:

	* A lease or housing agreement, rent receipt, motor vehicle
registration, or a utility or other bill, or bank or credit card
statement, mailed to your address. If these documents have been
destroyed, contact your mortgage company, landlord, vendors, employer
or bank. 
	* A public official's signed statement. If you cannot access
documentation to prove occupancy, you may provide a written statement
from a public official, member of a tribal council, homeless outreach
advocate, etc. It must include your name, location of residence, dates
of occupancy, and the official’s name, title, signature and contact
information.

	* ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME: Pay stub, tax returns, W2 forms 
	* BANK ACCOUNT INFORMATION: Bank statement
	* DAMAGE TO YOUR PROPERTY: A description of the damage caused, photos
of the damage. Receipts to verify expenses caused by the disaster. 

For information on replacing documents lost in the wildfires:
Replacing Lost Documents after Los Angeles County Wildfires
[https://www.fema.gov/fact-sheet/replacing-lost-documents-after-los-angeles-county-wildfires].

Apply for FEMA Individual Assistance online at DisasterAssistance.gov
[https://www.disasterassistance.gov/] (fastest option); on the FEMA
App [https://www.fema.gov/about/news-multimedia/mobile-products]
(available at the Apple App Store or Google Play); by phone at
800-621-3362 (if you use a relay service, give FEMA your number for
that service) or visit a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC); to locate a
DRC near you, visit the DRC Locator
[https://egateway.fema.gov/ESF6/DRCLocator].