FEMA Hotel/Motel Assistance
08 September 2008
FEMA assistance to include hotel/motel stays for Gustav evacuees whose homes are inaccessible or uninhabitable.
The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has activated procedures under its transitional sheltering initiative that allows eligible Gustav evacuees who cannot return to their homes to stay in hotels or motels until it is safe for them to go home. FEMA will pay for the lodging through the use of an authorization system directly to hotels and motels. A list of participating hotels is available online at www.gustav-evac.com.
As congregate shelters begin to close down, this assistance is intended to provide a more appropriate extended sheltering environment to evacuees who cannot return home because their neighborhoods are inaccessible or because their homes are so severely damaged that they cannot live in them. The initial period of assistance is from Sept. 3, 2008 to Oct. 3, 2008. FEMA can extend the stay if needed. Applicants are responsible for their own meals and hotel expenses other than lodging, as well as for any lodging costs above the authorized allowance.
Evacuees first need to apply for federal assistance through FEMA either online at http://www.fema.gov/ or by calling the FEMA toll free number at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), TTY 1-800-462-7585. Eligible evacuees must fit the following criteria:
- FEMA must be able to verify the identity of the evacuee;
- The primary residence of the evacuee must be in one of the parishes that have been declared a disaster area (please, contact the toll-free number to be certain); and
- The evacuee cannot return to or re-occupy his/her primary residence.
Persons who do not meet the criteria will be referred to local agencies for possible assistance for short-term lodging.
This program will not reimburse applicants for previously incurred hotel expenses. However, applicants should contact FEMA to see if they are eligible for such reimbursement under other FEMA programs.
