All Resources Legal Advocate Network

2024

Florida Hurricane Helene

Page last updated: 11/22/2024

All disasters declared after March 22, 2024, fall under new Individual Assistance (IA) rules. For more information, please see FEMA’s press release here.

FEMA has established a Rumor Response page to address the many rumors, urban legends, and scams that are circulating around Hurricane Helene. To visit this page, click here.

Florida Hurricane Helene (DR-4828)

Hurricane Helene hit Florida on September 23, 2024. On September 28, 2024, President Biden declared a major disaster.

People in the following counties are eligible to receive federal disaster assistance:

  • Alachua3
  • Baker3
  • Bradford3
  • Charlotte
  • Citrus
  • Collier3
  • Columbia1
  • DeSoto4
  • Dixie
  • Duvall3
  • Franklin
  • Gilchrist1
  • Gulf2
  • Hamilton1
  • Hernando
  • Hillsborough
  • Jefferson
  • Lafayette
  • Lee
  • Leon1
  • Levy
  • Madison
  • Manatee
  • Pasco
  • Pinellas
  • Putnam3
  • Sarasota
  • Suwanee1
  • Taylor
  • Union3
  • Wakulla

1These counties were added October 1, 2024.
2Gulf county was added on October 3, 2024.
3 These counties were added October 7, 2024.
4 DeSoto County was added October 23, 2024.

For the complete whitehouse.gov press release, please click here.

Important Deadlines

FEMA Application Deadline

Extended to Tuesday, January 7, 2025.

More Info

Appeal your FEMA decision letter

Within 60 days of the date on the determination letter.

Apply for Disaster Unemployment

Monday, December 2, 2024

More Info

Apply for SNAP Replacement

Sunday, October 6, 2024

Households must be able to prove loss of power for 4 hours or more, unless they're in the following counties:

  • Alachua
  • Baker
  • Bradford
  • Columbia
  • Dixie
  • Gilchrist
  • Hamilton
  • Jefferson
  • Lafayette
  • Levy
  • Madison
  • Nassau
  • Suwannee
  • Taylor
  • Union
  • Wakulla

    • More Info

    Hot Food Waiver

    Survivors in Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Madison, and Taylor Counties may use SNAP benefits to purchase hot food at participating retailers until Thursday, October 31, 2024.

    More Info

    Apply for D-SNAP

    Survivors can apply for D-SNAP in three groups, from November 1 through December 15, 2024. Please follow the link below to find out when and where to apply.

    More Info

    FEMA Assistance

    Applications for FEMA Assistance can be submitted by:

    Phone: Contact FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY users can call 1-800-462-7585.

    Online: Fill out the application at DisasterAssistance.gov

    In-Person: You can also fill out the application at a FEMA Disaster Resource Center (DRC).

    Mobile Registration Intake Center: MRICs move around regularly. They will be in an area for a short period of time to help survivors who need registration help. Visit FEMA’s Disaster Declaration page to find more information about the Mobile Registration Intake Center locations and hours.

    Disaster Recovery Center: To find a Disaster Recovery Center near you, use the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s DRC locator or text “DRC” and your zip code to 43362 (4FEMA) to locate a Disaster Recovery Center in your area.

    What to Expect After You Apply for FEMA Assistance

    Created by FEMA, this handout provides a basic overview what to expect after you have applied for assistance.
    also available in:
    Español
    FEMA Fact Sheet: Returning to In- Home Inspections

    As of June 1, 2022, FEMA reinstituted verification of disaster-caused losses through in-person home inspections. Multiple virtual methods were used to inspect survivor homes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Disaster survivors’ health and safety remain FEMA’s priority so the agency will retain the ability to conduct inspections without entering the home.

    This link will take you to FEMA’s fact sheet on in- home inspections.

    Safety & Shelter Resources

    Please check your local news and local officials for the latest safety and shelter resources.

    Access information on Safety and Shelter assistance through the resources below.

    American Red Cross Disaster Relief & Recovery Services

    Explore resources from the American Red Cross on how to stay safe and recover from a disaster.

    Website
    Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) Locator

    FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) are accessible facilities and mobile offices you can visit to learn more about FEMA and other disaster assistance programs. You may also visit to ask questions about your case. The DRC Locator helps you find the hours, services, and locations of DRCs near you.

    Website
    Disaster and Disability Hotline

    The Disability & Disaster Hotline, run by the Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies, offers help to people with disabilities and their families during emergencies. The hotline provides information, referrals, guidance, technical assistance and other resources for those impacted by disasters. Whether you’re a person with a disability, a family member, an organization assisting people with disabilities, or anyone else with pressing disaster-related needs, the hotline can connect you to support.

    The Disaster Hotline is always available for intake calls, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

    The link below will take you to the Partnership’s disaster hotline landing page.

    Organization

    A free legal help hotline is now available for Hurricane Helene survivors.  Survivors can call (833) 514-2940 anytime, and leave a message if calling after business hours.

    For more information, please see the complete press release here.

    Legal Services of North Florida, Inc.

    (850) 385-9007

    2119 Delta Blvd.
    Tallahassee, FL 32303

    Provides free civil legal services to low-income people.

    Organization
    Three Rivers Legal Services, Inc.

    1-866-256-8091

    Provides free civil legal services to low-income people.

    Organization
    Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida, Inc.

    (800) 405-1417

    122 E. Colonial Drive #200
    Orlando, FL 32801

    Provides free civil legal services to low-income people.

    Organization
    Bay Area Legal Services, Inc.

    (800) 625-2257

    1302 N. 19th St.
    Suite 400
    Tampa, FL 33605

    Provides free civil legal services to low-income people.

    Organization
    Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc.

    1-888-582-3410

    1321 E. Memorial Boulevard
    Lakeland, FL 33801

    Provides free civil legal services to low-income people.

    Organization
    The Florida Bar

    (850) 561-5600

    651 E Jefferson St
    Tallahassee, FL 32399

    Professional association of lawyers.

    Organization
    Introducing: Disaster Legal Services

    The American Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division has teamed up with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to create Disaster Legal Services (DLS) — a program designed to help survivors navigate the aftermath of presidentially- declared disasters. The DLS program provides immediate temporary legal assistance to disaster survivors—at no charge.

    Issues where DLS can help include:

    • Insurance Claims
    • New Wills
    • Powers of Attorney
    • Other Legal Papers Lost During the Disaster
    • Problems with Landlords
    • FEMA Appeals
    • Home Repair Contracts and Contractor Fraud

    Learn more through this short video.

    Video
    ABA YLD Disaster Legal Services Hotline

    (888) 743-5749

    To help meet the growing legal needs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division has teamed up with RingCentral Inc. to create a national hotline to connect the Disaster Legal Services Program (DLS) with those seeking civil legal services.

    Organization

    News & Information