FEMA has authorized Critical Needs Assistance for all designated parishes following Hurricane Laura to help households with immediate or serious needs who were displaced from their primary dwelling.
Critical Needs Assistance are payments to help survivors pay for lifesaving and life-sustaining items. These may include water, food, first aid, prescriptions, infant formula, diapers, consumable medical supplies, durable medical equipment, personal hygiene items and fuel for transportation.
To be eligible for Critical Needs Assistance a survivor must:
Register with FEMA online at disasterassistance.gov or by downloading the FEMA app. Survivors may also call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585. Those who use 711 or Video Relay Service may call 800-621-3362.
Verify their identity.
Report at the time of registration that they have critical needs and request financial assistance for those needs and expenses.
Have a pre-disaster primary residence located in a county designated for CAN.
Be displaced from their pre-disaster primary residence as a result of the disaster.
Critical Needs Assistance is currently available in Acadia, Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Grant, Jackson, Jefferson Davis, Lincoln, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Rapides, Sabine Vermilion, Vernon and Winn parishes.
Funds are delivered via direct deposit or paper check payable to the eligible applicant.
Critical needs funding may take longer than usual due to the magnitude of Hurricane Laura. Once made, an eligibility determination is final.
