DisasterAssistance.gov
DisasterAssistance.gov is the official federal portal for disaster recovery assistance and is often the best place to start. This website provides access to resources for immediate needs, such as emergency shelter, food assistance, and medical care. It connects users with support from more than a dozen federal agencies, including:
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
- U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
- U.S. Department of Labor
- U.S. Department of Agriculture
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
By completing a questionnaire, you can find out whether you qualify for various disaster assistance programs. Depending on your situation, grants and low-interest loans may be available for homeowners, renters, business owners, veterans, retirees, and individuals with disabilities to help cover losses, temporary housing, and repairs.
To be eligible for most federal disaster relief, you typically must live in a presidentially declared disaster area. For example, California received a presidential disaster declaration on January 8, 2025, allowing FEMA to provide disaster assistance to Los Angeles County residents affected by wildfires. This assistance may include funding for temporary housing, personal property replacement, and essential home repairs.
SBA Disaster Assistance
The SBA’s disaster assistance programs are a major source of recovery funding and are not limited to traditional small businesses. The SBA’s website offers relief programs for small business owners, homeowners, renters, and nonprofit organizations affected by disasters. Available programs include:
- SBA Disaster Loans: Low-interest loans for businesses, homeowners, renters, and private nonprofit organizations in declared disaster areas. These loans can help cover physical damage and other losses not fully compensated by insurance or FEMA grants. Businesses may also use these loans to help meet ongoing operating expenses.
- Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL): Available to small businesses, private nonprofits, and small agricultural cooperatives, these loans help cover ordinary and necessary operating expenses when a disaster causes substantial economic injury. EIDL funds cannot be used to repair physical damage, replace lost property, pay off existing debt, or make capital improvements.
Homeowners and renters should note that FEMA grants are typically applied first, and SBA loans may be offered as a secondary option if additional assistance is needed. Accepting an SBA loan is optional, but declining it may limit access to certain types of FEMA aid.
If you're interested in assisting with disaster recovery efforts, SBA.gov provides guidance on registering as a federal contractor. Contractors who meet federal procurement requirements may qualify for government contracts and financing opportunities while supporting local rebuilding efforts.
Other Recovery Resources
Beyond federal grants and loans, several nationwide agencies and nonprofit organizations provide disaster recovery assistance across the United States, regardless of the state where the disaster occurred. These resources can help with emergency shelter, food, housing, legal assistance, debris cleanup, mental health support, and long-term recovery planning.
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs): In-person and virtual centers that provide guidance on federal disaster assistance, housing options, document replacement, and appeals. Locations and availability vary by disaster.
- Disaster Legal Services (DLS): A federal program coordinated by FEMA and the American Bar Association that provides free legal help to low-income disaster survivors for issues such as insurance claims, housing disputes, replacement of vital documents, and FEMA appeals.
- American Red Cross: Provides emergency shelter, meals, financial assistance, recovery planning, and reunification services nationwide following disasters.
- Salvation Army: Offers food, shelter, emotional and spiritual care, and emergency financial assistance during disaster response and recovery efforts across the U.S.
Because disaster programs vary by location, disaster type, and timing, survivors should regularly check official federal websites or contact these organizations directly for the most current eligibility requirements and application procedures.
Please note: This page offers general legal information, not but not legal advice tailored for your specific legal situation. Rocket Lawyer Incorporated isn't a law firm or a substitute for one. For further information on this topic, you can Ask a Legal Pro.
