FEMA May Help with Recovery Expenses Already Paid

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Even if you have already begun repairing or replacing items that were damaged or destroyed during the severe storms and tornadoes of May 24-27, 2024, FEMA may be able to reimburse you for your expenses, if those expenses were not covered by insurance or other assistance. Be sure to save your receipts.

Residents in Baxter, Benton, Boone, Fulton, Greene, Madison, Marion and Randolph counties who had a home or personal property damaged or destroyed may be eligible for FEMA assistance.

FEMA can only approve home repairs that are necessary to restore the home to a habitable condition. The types of repairs or replacements that may be eligible for assistance include:

• Appliances: Includes standard household appliances, such as a refrigerator, washing machine, etc.
• Clothing: Essential clothing needed due to overall loss, damage, or contamination.
• Room furnishings: Standard furnishings found in a bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and living room.
• Essential Tools: Tools and equipment required by an employer as a condition of employment and items required as a condition of an applicant's or household member's education.
• Accessibility Items: FEMA also provides assistance for damaged personal property items required for qualified applicants with disabilities.

Applicants must meet the following conditions to receive Personal Property Assistance:

• The item needs to be repaired or replaced due to disaster damage.
• The occupants of the household have an unmet disaster-related need for the damaged item. FEMA may not provide assistance if the applicant can meet that need with another similar item in their possession or available to the household.
• The item was owned and being used by occupants of the household.
  • FEMA does not provide assistance for furnishings and/or appliances provided by a landlord.
  • Items used by guests and relatives who were not members of the pre-disaster household are not eligible for assistance.

You do not have to visit a disaster recovery center to apply for FEMA disaster assistance. The quickest way to apply is by going online at disasterassistance.gov/.

Additional options to apply include:

• Download the FEMA App for mobile devices.
• Call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. Help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service.
• To view an accessible video about how to apply visit: Three Ways to Register for FEMA Disaster Assistance - YouTube.

For the latest information visit fema.gov/disaster/4788. Follow the FEMA Region 6 X account at X.com/FEMARegion6 or on Facebook at facebook.com/FEMARegion6.