Resources

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.

Current Information

• Alabama DR-4563 Hurricane Sally
• California: Wildfires
  • DR4558 and DR4569
• Florida DR4565 Hurricane Sally
• Iowa DR-4557 Derecho
• Louisiana 
  • DR4559 Laura
  • DR4750 Delta
• Mississippi: Hurriance Zeta (2020)
• Puerto Rico 
  • DR4560 Tropical Storm Isaias 
  • DR4751 Severe Storms and Flooding
• Oregon DR4562 Wildfire
  
• Texas Winter Storm 2021

If you have questions regarding the program please contact Sara Stretch, Program Director, or Linda Anderson Stanley, 2019–2020 Disaster Legal Services Director.

Disaster Resources

• FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers
• National Disaster Legal Aid Resource Center
• National Disaster Legal Aid: Legal Help Resources
  
• DisasterAssistance.gov
• FEMA Appeals
• FEMA Accessible Resources

Our Partners

• Federal Emergency Management Agency
• DisasterAssistance.gov
• Disaster Legal Aid Resource Center
• American Red Cross
• Legal Services Corporation
• National Volunteers Organization Active in Disaster
• U.S. Small Business Administration
  

General Resources

• ABA Free Legal Answers
  
• ABA Committee on Disaster Response and Preparedness 
  
• National Disaster Legal Aid – Resources for Legal Aid Professionals

Training

•  Tenant’s Rights in a Disaster (Oregon Wildfire Trainings)
• Equal Justice Works Presents: How to Draft Your First FEMA Appeal 
• Helping Manufactured Home Park Tenants Who Were Victims of the Recent Wildfires (Oregon Wildfire Trainings)
• 2017 - 2018 FEMA Training Presentation
  
• Responding to Legal Questions from those Affected by Disasters (from TXBar)
  
• Federal Disaster Relief and the National Flood Insurance Program  (Lawline Webinar)
  
• Utilizing Government Contracts for Disaster Relief and Hazard Mitigation (Lawline Webinar)
• FEMA Assistance and Appeals Training Video for Pro Bono Attorneys
• FEMA: Appeals, Recoupment, and other Issues

Insurance

• Which Disasters are Covered by Homeowners Insurance
• Consumer Rights and Insurance Issues After a Disaster
• Post-Disaster Insurance Issues
• Federal Flood and Homeowner's Insurance

Employee Rights/Unemployment

• Protecting the Rights of Employees After a Disaster

Forms

• Submit your "End of Disaster Reporrt"
  

Archived Resources

• Tropical Storm Imelda (2019)
• Mississippi 2019: Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding
• Hurricane Florence (2018)
• 2017 Hurricanes: Harvey, Irma
• USA disaster hotlines and information (2018-2019)