For immediate housing needs, the American Red Cross and other volunteer agencies set up shelters for people who cannot return to their homes. Listen to your radio or watch local media for the location of the nearest volunteer agency facility.
For health and space reasons, pets are not permitted in public emergency shelters. Contact the emergency management office or your local animal shelter or humane society to see if there is a shelter set-up to take pets in an emergency.
For those who have longer-term housing needs, FEMA offers several types of assistance, including services and grants to help people repair their homes and find replacement housing.
To be eligible:
- The home must be the applicant's primary residence.
- The home must have been destroyed, become uninhabitable, or be inaccessible as a result of the disaster.
- The insurance covering the dwelling does not fully cover applicant's additional living expense and/or home repairs.
Source: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
