All Resources Legal Advocate Network

2024

Virginia Tropical Storm Helene

Page last updated: 10/15/2024

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.

Virginia Tropical Storm Helene (DR-4831)

Hurricane Helene struck Virginia causing widespread damage starting on September 25th, 2024. On October 1, 2024, President Biden declared a major disaster.

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

  • Bedford2
  • Bland2
  • Carroll2
  • Giles
  • Grayson
  • Montgomery1
  • Pittsylvania2
  • Pulaski1
  • Radford2
  • Russell2
  • Scott3
  • Smyth
  • Tazewell
  • Washington
  • Wise2
  • Wythe
  • The independent city of Galax

1 These counties were added October 5, 2024.
2 These counties were added October 8, 2024.
3 These counties were added October 11, 2024.

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

Important Deadlines

FEMA Application Deadline

Monday, December 2, 2024

More Info

Appeal your FEMA decision letter

Within 60 days of the date on the determination letter.

Apply for Disaster Unemployment

Sunday, December 1, 2024

More Info

SNAP Hot Food Waiver

Approved until Sunday, November 10, 2024.

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 aid hotline has been set up for survivors of Virginia Hurricane Helene. Survivors can call 1-888-201-2772 from 8:30 AM to Noon and 1:00 PM until 4:00 PM Monday through Thursday, or 8:30 AM until 12:30 PM on Friday. Interpreters are available to assist you if you need one.

More information will be posted here as it becomes available.

Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society, Inc.

(276) 783-8300
(800) 277-6754

227 W. Cherry St.
Marion, VA 24354

Provides free civil legal services to low-income people.

Organization
Virginia State Bar

(804) 775-0500

1111 East Main Street
Suite 700
Richmond, VA 23219-0026

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