If you recently experienced a disaster and need immediate assistance
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.
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).
Applying for FEMA assistance online is usually faster, but if you prefer to talk to someone you can also call 1-800-621-3362.
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.
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.