This Center-funded project was conducted by the Louisiana State University Sea Grant Law & Policy Program (2023-2025).
Project Investigators:
- Niki L. Pace, Research Attorney and Sustainability Coordinator, Louisiana Sea Grant Law & Policy Program
- Melissa Daigle, Research Attorney and Resilience Specialist, Louisiana Sea Grant Law & Policy Program
- Dominique Seibert, Marine Extension Agent, Louisiana Sea Grant
- Carol Franze, Marine Extension Agent, Louisiana Sea Grant,
Project Oversight Committee:
- Nancy Kinner, Coastal Response Research Center, UNH
- Charlie Henry, NOAA ORR Disaster Preparedness Program, Disaster Response Center
- Jessica White, NOAA ORR Disaster Preparedness Program, Disaster Response Center
- Elizabeth Hieb, NOAA ORR Disaster Preparedness Program
Project Overview:
Across the United States natural disaster impacts are increasingly frequent and costly. Though many Americans rely on various insurance programs (homeowners, national flood insurance,
business insurance), many are left with inadequate coverage following a disaster. They rely on social safety nets to survive. Programs like those found in the Stafford Act or fishery disaster
protections of the Magnuson-Stevens Act are essential to the recovery of local communities. However, these programs are often misunderstood, difficult to navigate, and frustratingly opaque to the very individuals they seek to serve.
This proposal aims to serve communities by providing a greater understanding of what the programs can and cannot do following a disaster event. By providing well researched outreach materials on the various programs – both assets and limitations – to a variety of stakeholders in order to meet the needs of coastal constituents. This project provides outreach materials in three languages (English, Spanish, Vietnamese), various formats (in-person, fact sheets, videos), and reach a variety of audiences (homeowners/residents, community leaders, and fishermen). These resources provide a foundational understanding of what to expect from the federal disaster programs if and when a disaster occurs. The resources will be federally focused and therefore useful and replicable across the country. Through this program, coastal residents and communities will be better equipped to navigate the challenging federal relief system following a disaster event. By increasing local understanding of federal disaster aid, local communities will understand what can be expected of federal agencies like the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and what they should be prepared to manage without immediate federal relief. A realistic understanding of the federal disaster aid will allow communities to identify gaps in the relief programs and plan for those needs.
For more information: https://www.laseagrant.org/resources/disaster-aid/
Videos are available here>> https://www.laseagrant.org/resources/disaster-aid/videos/
Fact Sheets are available without specific reference to Louisiana. The content is applicable to all 50 states and the U.S. Territories.
Major Storm Disaster Declarations
A major storm disaster declaration refers to a formal process that requests federal assistance to deal with a major disaster that overwhelms state and local capacity under the Stafford Act. The formal request allows the federal government to provide support such as mobilizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Guard as well as other support, depending upon the situation.
Download Disaster Fact Sheet #1 >
Common Types of Federal Disaster Aid for Major Storms
The federal government provides several types of disaster aid related to major storm events. Aid programs can be provided to individuals as well as communities. The specific type of aid available will depend on the storm event and its disaster declaration. The disaster declaration will establish the locations and type of aid available for that disaster.
Download Disaster Fact Sheet #2 >
Housing Assistance After a Major Storm
When there has been a major disaster, the federal government often offers housing assistance for people in need. There are two main types of housing assistance. First, housing assistance may be financial, which means that people will receive money to find and pay for housing. Second, housing assistance may be direct, which means that a person will not receive money, but they will receive a place to stay, such as a trailer or RV. The federal government decides what types of housing assistance will be available based on the type of major disaster that has taken place, and it will decide what type of assistance a person may be offered. A person only needs to apply for assistance one time to be considered for all types of housing assistance.
Download Disaster Fact Sheet #3 >
Applying for FEMA Disaster Assistance
If a major disaster has been declared in your area, you may be eligible to receive financial assistance from FEMA. There are four ways to apply for federal disaster assistance: online, in the FEMA app, by phone, or in person.
Download Disaster Fact Sheet #4 >
Updates to FEMA’s Individual Assistance Program
On January 22, 2024, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) published a new rule changing the Individual Assistance Program. These changes aim to make the Individual Assistance program more equitable by expanding eligibility for some types of assistance, removing procedural barriers to entry, and simplifying certain processes overall.
Download Disaster Fact Sheet #5 >
