Homeowners, renters and students in six Louisiana parishes have until Thursday, Oct. 1, to apply for federal disaster assistance for damage or losses caused by Tropical Storm Arthur.
The declaration covers Avoyelles, Lafourche, Pointe Coupee, St. Landry, St. Tammany and Terrebonne parishes for the June 17-24 storm, FEMA said.
People with flood insurance should file a claim with their insurer before applying for FEMA aid because federal law bars the agency from duplicating benefits for losses covered by insurance. Applicants may still qualify for federal help when insurance does not cover all disaster expenses.
FEMA cautioned that standard homeowners and renters policies generally do not cover flood damage. Filing a flood claim under those policies may not produce coverage and could affect the policyholder's insurance record.
Federal funds may help displaced residents rent housing, make accessibility repairs or upgrades, and repair or replace items needed for work or school.
Eligibility and the amount of assistance depend on each applicant's documented losses, insurance coverage and other disaster benefits. FEMA's warning against duplicate payments means applicants should retain insurance decisions and information showing costs that remain uncovered.
Applying to FEMA is separate from reporting damage to the Louisiana Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. State damage reports help officials measure the storm's overall impact but do not serve as an application for federal aid.
Residents can apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov, through the FEMA mobile app or by calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Phone lines are open from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. with assistance in multiple languages.
The Oct. 1 deadline applies to both property owners and people who rent, as well as students with eligible storm-related losses. FEMA urged survivors not to treat the state damage-reporting website as a substitute for completing the federal application.
People using video relay, captioned telephone or another relay service should provide FEMA with the number for that service. Additional information about the declaration is available under disaster number 4927 on FEMA's website.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to news@fingerlakes1.com.