Disaster Recovery
If you recently experienced a disaster and need immediate assistance
- Call 911 for immediate medical attention
- Find a shelter if you have evacuated because of a disaster, and need to shelter outside of the hazard area. Search online using the American Red Cross Shelter Finder for help with locating open shelters near you.
- Text loved ones or use a Wi-Fi connection to update your status on social media to let others know you are safe. During the immediate aftermath of disasters, you may be unable to make a phone call, but usually, SMS text messaging works.
Dozens of small and large natural disasters impact communities across the United States every year. Whether you experienced a house fire, a hurricane, a flood, or another type of disaster, you can find helpful resources on this page.
Stark County Emergency Management Agency
4500 Atlantic Blvd NE LLCanton, OH 44705
When disasters receive an official declaration from the federal government, individuals impacted by that disaster may be eligible for individual assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
- Go to DisasterAssistance.gov and search for your location to determine if you are eligible.
- If eligible, apply online and use the same site to check the status of your application.
- FEMA offers other disaster assistance resources for individuals impacted by disasters, including help for business owners and medical expenses. Learn more about all the FEMA Individual Assistance options here.
Applying for FEMA assistance online is usually faster, but if you prefer to talk to someone you can also call 1-800-621-3362.
American Red Cross: Stark and Muskingum Lakes Chapter
- Disaster Services
- Volunteer Services
- Blood Donation Services
- Lifesaving Skills Training
- Military or Veterans Assistance (mental health counseling, emergency assistance and job services)
- Home Fire Campaign
Canton, OH 44707
Stark County Job & Family Services
- Cash assistance
- Food assistance
- Medicaid & Medical
- Non-emergency transportation - Transportation to and from Medicaid-qualified appointments, including doctor visits, dental visits, vision appointments and more.
- Child care services
- Work experience program - Program participants are matched with local businesses and organizations in exchange for public assistance benefits.
- Subsidized Employment Program (SEP) - Supports local employers by offsetting the costs of hiring and training new employees.
- Foster care & adoption
- Kinship care
- Child support services
- Project KARE
- Healthy Start - Medicaid-funded program providing basic medical coverage for pregnant women and children up to 19 years old.
- PRC Plan - providing short-term assistance to address an emergent need and help families retain and maintain employment.
Canton, OH 44702
Many states impacted by larger natural disasters have designated legal hotlines that can connect you with legal resources specific to your situation.
Visit the American Bar Association’s website here to find a hotline in your state.
You can also find legal assistance related to disasters at the National Disaster Legal Aid Resource Center.
Community Legal Aid Services
Canton, OH 44702
If you or a loved one is having a difficult time coping with the aftermath of a disaster, the Disaster Distress Helpline is available 24/7 and in many languages. The helpline is staffed by trained crisis counselors. From the United States and its territories, call or text 1-800-985-5990 to connect with a trained crisis counselor, 24/7.
Spanish-speakers can call the hotline and press “2” for bilingual support. Callers to the hotline can also connect with counselors in over 100 other languages via 3rd-party interpretation services; to connect with a counselor in your primary language, simply indicate your preferred language to the responding counselor and she/he will connect to a live interpreter (interpretation in less commonly-spoken languages may require calling back at an appointed time).
Visit our mental health service providers listing to see local organizations.
Disasters can leave children and teens feeling frightened, confused, and insecure. Their responses can be quite varied. It’s important to not only recognize these reactions, but also help children cope with their emotions.
- FEMA’s website Ready.gov offers tips and resources to help parents and other caregivers support children and teens impacted by disasters.
- If you had to relocate temporarily or permanently after a disaster, there are several steps you can take to help your child or teen adjust. Visit HealthyChildren.org for tips, resources, and additional support.
- Experts recommend that helping children be more prepared for disasters helps them be more resilient after one. For age-appropriate resources, activity guides, and information, visit the Ready Kids page on Ready.gov.