FEMA Assistance
In support of our community, Scripps College has compiled some information about the FEMA process and resources. Please note that this information is based upon current FEMA guidelines and may be subject to change. For the most current information, we encourage you to go to disasterassistance.gov.
To seek recovery assistance and resources, FEMA recommends the steps below. An overview of the process and Frequently Asked Questions can be viewed here.
- FEMA recommends that you first take photos of damaged homes, vehicles, personal property, and belongings for your records, and that you make a list of damaged/lost items. This information may be helpful when working with your insurance company or discussing your losses with a FEMA inspector.
- If you have insurance (such as homeowners, renters, auto, flood, or other types of insurance), please file a claim with your insurance provider as soon as possible. You do not have to file your claim prior to applying for FEMA disaster assistance, but you will be required to provide FEMA your insurance settlement or denial before being considered for certain types of assistance. By law, FEMA cannot duplicate benefits for losses covered by insurance.
- File an application with FEMA to apply for assistance. You may file online or if you would like more information or support in applying for assistance, you can find your closest FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) using their DRC Locator tool.
Types of Assistance from FEMA include:
- Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) for temporary housing at a participating hotel.
- Home Repair and replacement assistance for physical property damage and personal property loss.
- Disaster Resources for Older Adults and People with Disabilities – Visit ACL Emergency Response for information including: locating eldercare, disability info & assistance, accessible videos on seeking FEMA assistance, resources and benefits compiled by the National Council on Aging, and more.
- 203(h) Mortgage Insurance for Disaster Victims and 203(k) Rehabilitation Mortgage Insurance may assist with mortgage insurance and home rehabilitation funds.
- Disaster Assistance and Emergency Relief Program for Individuals and Businesses – Extensions may be available for tax payments and filing.
- Emergency Food & Water, Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) – D-SNAP gives food assistance to low-income households with food loss or damage caused by a natural disaster.
- Disaster Legal Services may assist with insurance claims, wills & legal papers, home repair contracts, proof of home ownership, landlord issues, and FEMA appeals.
- More resources about the broad range of FEMA assistance is available online.
Application Assistance
If you need help with your application, you can call the FEMA Helpline or visit a DRC:
- 1-800-621-3362, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (in your time zone), 7 days a week. Hours may be extended during periods of high demand.
- If you use a video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone (CTS), or other service, give FEMA your number for that service.
The Disaster Assistance process for support from FEMA is available to individuals who may be impacted. While Scripps cannot directly support your application process, we are working to make available to you resources and information related to the process. We encourage you to use the FEMA DRC and the FEMA website and tools for the most current and direct information.