Disaster Legal Services Program

    About the Program

    Through the Disaster Legal Services Program, the ABA Young Lawyers Division (ABA YLD) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provide immediate temporary legal assistance to disaster survivors at no charge. 

    Since September 2007 the ABA YLD has responded to 178 declared disasters in 44 states and 4 U.S. territories. (Last updated 8/2018)

    If you have questions regarding the program please contact Alia Graham, Program Specialist or Daniel Wade, 2018 – 2019 Disaster Legal Services Director.

    District Representative Manual 2018-2019 (Updated 2/11/2019)

    DLS Articles

    Hurricane Recovery Resources

    YLD Contact: Alia Graham

    Hotlines

    Wisconsin hotline - Wisconsin Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides

    1-877-947-5291

    Current Pro Bono Hotlines

    California hotline - California Wildfires

    Butte County

    1-800-345-9491

    Los Angeles County

    1-800-870-0732

    Ventura County

    1-877-301-4448

    Northern Mariana Islands hotline

    1-670-234-6243

    Georgia hotline - Georgia Hurricane Michael

    1-866-584-8027

    Florida hotline - Florida Hurricane Michael

    1-866-550-2929

    South Carolina hotline - South Carolina Hurricane Florence

    1-877-797-2227 ext. 120

    North Carolina hotline - North Carolina Hurricane Florence

    1-833-242-3549

    California hotline - California Wildfires And High Winds

    1-800-822-9687 (Shasta County)
    1-877-529-7700 for (Lake County)

    Texas hotline - Texas Severe Storms And Flooding

    1-866 757-1570

    Disaster Distress Helpline

    The Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH) is the first national hotline dedicated to providing year-round disaster crisis counseling. This toll-free, multilingual, crisis support service is available 24/7 via telephone (1-800-985-5990) and SMS (text 'TalkWithUs' to 66746) to residents in the U.S. and its territories who are experiencing emotional distress related to natural or man-made disasters.

    Program Partners

    Survivors

    Volunteers

    About the Team

    Daniel Wade
    Coordinator
    Bio (PDF)

    Andrew VanSingel
    Special Advisor
    Bio (PDF)

    Linda Anderson
    Vice-Coordinator
    Bio (PDF)

    Courtney Emerson
    Vice-Coordinator
    Bio (PDF)

    Jason T. Auer
    Member
    Bio (PDF)

    Dan Vernoff
    Member
    Bio (PDF)

    Melissa Luckman
    Member
    Bio (PDF)

    Elizabeth "Beth" Overmoe
    Member
    Bio (PDF)

    Diana-Marie Laventure
    Member
    Bio (PDF)

    Casey DeReus
    Member
    Bio (PDF)