Puerto Rico earthquake
A toll-free legal help hotline is now available to survivors impacted by Puerto Rico’s recent earthquakes.
Disaster Legal Services Program
Since September 2007, the ABA YLD has responded to 178 declared disasters in 44 states and 4 U.S. territories.
We're here to help
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.
About the - ProgramSupport Disaster Legal Services
Your generous gift to the YLD will be combined and leveraged with other donations to further such initiatives as the YLD Disaster Legal Services.
Current Information
South Dakota Flooding
Severe storms, tornadoes and flooding struck areas in South Dakota between September 9 and September 26, 2019. FEMA announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the state of South Dakota to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the areas.
Tropical Storm Imelda
Information for Texas residents affected by Tropical Storm Imelda and flooding that occurred in Chambers, Harris, Jefferson, Liberty, Montgomery, and Orange counties September 17 through 23, 2019.
Mississippi Severe Weather
Information for those affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding between February 22 to March 29, 2019, in Mississippi.
Our History
45 years of disaster relief, recovery, and assistance
Andrew VanSingel, chair of the ABA Standing Committee on Disaster Response and Preparedness, details the history of the Disaster Legal Services program in "The Calm After the Storm: 45 Years of the ABA Young Lawyers Division Division’s Disaster Legal Ser s Disaster Legal Services Pr vices Program" for the Touro Law Review.
Read the - ArticleDisaster Legal Aid Information
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.
DLS Articles
Thousands of new lawyers provide free legal advice and representation to hundreds of thousands of disaster survivors in the United States and its territories. Read about what they do and why it's important.
