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CNN
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The federal government offers a variety of assistance programs to people affected by disasters such as Helen and Milton, the two major hurricanes that recently struck the southeastern United States.
To access the funds, you must submit an application to the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency.
As of Friday, only FEMA aid was available for Hurricane Helen victims. Those affected by Hurricane Milton should wait to file until there is an official federal disaster declaration.
Here’s what people need to know:
There are three ways to apply for FEMA assistance.
Please call our toll-free number 800-621-FEMA (3362). Calls are accepted from 7 AM to 11 PM daily in any time zone, and help is available in many languages. Register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or using the FEMA app. For those with Wi-Fi access and electronic devices turned on, applying online is the quickest way to do so. Please visit the disaster recovery center directly. A list of open locations can be found at fema.gov/drc.
Floridians affected by both hurricanes will need to submit two applications, one for each storm, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said Thursday.
To receive assistance, you must live in an area that has been declared affected. According to FEMA, they or anyone living in the home must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen, or eligible non-citizen.
Applicants will be asked to enter their social security number so that FEMA can verify their identity.
For certain types of assistance, FEMA will also verify that the affected home is the applicant’s primary residence. Government agencies may send inspectors to investigate damage.
FEMA assistance generally covers costs associated with home repairs not covered by insurance.
The federal government administers several disaster assistance programs through FEMA and the Small Business Administration.
First, eligible survivors will receive a $750 direct payment from FEMA to help them buy food, water, baby formula, medicine, clothing, and any other necessities they may need in the immediate aftermath of the storm. The recipient does not have to repay this money. This is the first payment FEMA will make to disaster survivors, many of whom may be eligible for additional assistance. In addition to housing repairs, subsidies for rent and lodging will be provided to people who have been forced to leave their homes due to disasters. The maximum amount available for these needs is $43,600, as set by Congress. FEMA provides funds to replace or repair personal property such as appliances, upholstery, vehicles, and computers. It will also pay for increased childcare fees and expenses due to disasters, as well as medical expenses for injuries and illnesses caused by disasters. These refunds are capped at $43,600, along with the initial payment of $750. The SBA provides low-interest loans to renters, homeowners, business owners, and nonprofit organizations that have suffered disaster-related losses.
Victims of disasters may also be eligible for assistance from state and local organizations and nonprofit organizations such as the American Red Cross. The American Red Cross on Wednesday night assisted 83,000 evacuees in Florida evacuation centers and plans to deliver meals and relief supplies to affected areas once shelters reopen.
Florida maintains its own Official Florida Disaster Fund, which distributes donations to service organizations across the state to assist affected communities.
The federal website, DisasterAssistance.gov, also provides information about local resources.
The Internal Revenue Service also provides assistance to people living in FEMA-designated disaster areas. For more information, taxpayers can call the IRS Disaster Hotline at 866-562-5227.
Residents of all Hurricane Helen-affected states of Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, as well as parts of Florida, Tennessee, and Virginia, will have until May 1st to file their federal personal and corporate taxes. You must file a tax return and pay taxes. This includes the 2024 tax return, which is typically due in mid-April, quarterly payroll and excise tax returns, and quarterly estimated income tax payments.
The IRS announced Friday that residents of 51 Florida counties affected by Hurricane Milton will also be eligible for an extension of filing and tax payment deadlines. This means affected residents across the Sunshine State have until May 1 to file and pay federal personal and business tax returns.
Additionally, people whose property is lost or damaged in a federally declared disaster may be able to claim a casualty deduction and receive a larger refund. Taxpayers who have lost records can also obtain a copy of their tax return online at www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript or request a copy of their tax return by filing Form 4506. You can.
Some small business owners in the region may also receive assistance in the form of coronavirus-era tax credits. The IRS announced Thursday that it has processed about 400,000 claims, representing about $10 billion in eligible claims. The program is rife with fraud, which has delayed application decisions.
CNN’s Keely Aouga contributed to this report.
This story has been updated with additional information.
