Common Legal Issues After a Disaster

Overview

You may face many challenges when trying to recover after a disaster. Some may seem out of your control. But there are laws that can help — and there is free legal assistance available on these issues for low-income Americans who qualify, depending on monthly income and other factors. Check with a legal aid office in your area to apply for free assistance.

Some of these issues arise in the first few weeks or months after a disaster, but many come up later, even after a year.

Housing and Consumer Issues

• Lease terminations and evictions
• Home foreclosures
• Rent subsidy renewals
• Section 8 vouchers
• Landlord refusal to make repairs
• Utility shut-offs
• Security deposit disputes
• Insurance claims and disputes
• Difficulties proving ownership of your home
• Home repair contractor scams, such as overcharging and failure to complete the work you paid for
• Price gouging by businesses, including raising prices excessively for repairs, fuel, and essential supplies immediately after a disaster

Income and Financial Issues

• Replacing lost documents — such as birth certificates, driver’s licenses, and Social Security cards — that may be needed to apply for or restore benefits
• Public benefit issues or applications, as for food stamps or unemployment
• Applying for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) financial assistance, and filing appeals if FEMA rejects your application
• Applying for U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loans
• Wage theft, including not being paid for all hours of work
• Bankruptcy, including whether to file for bankruptcy and how to file

Family and Education Issues

• Access to public education
• Issues with custody, guardianship, and parenting orders
• Power of attorney to make decisions for a child or older parent
• Domestic violence issues, including protective orders