In recent weeks, communities affected by Hurricanes Milton and Helene have faced significant challenges. In the face of this adversity, it is essential to know the help resources available to victims and how to access them. Here we detail the options offered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to support those who have been impacted.

Help from FEMA

FEMA offers assistance to help families and businesses recover from significant damage caused by natural disasters. This assistance may include grants for temporary accommodation, essential home repairs, and other serious disaster-related needs that are not covered by insurance.

Who can access?

FEMA help is available for those in areas designated as disaster zones. To be eligible, one must have suffered direct damage from the hurricane and require assistance that cannot be provided by insurance or other forms of assistance.

What Does It Cover?

• Temporary Accommodation: Assistance to pay the rent in a place to stay temporarily if your home is uninhabitable.
• Housing Repair: Financial aid for repairs necessary to make homes safe, sanitary and habitable.
• Medical and Dental Expenses: Covers costs associated with injuries caused by the disaster.
• Funeral Assistance: Financial support for funeral expenses caused by the disaster.

How to Carry out the Procedure?

Those affected can request FEMA assistance online through the DisasterAssistance.gov website, by calling the FEMA helpline at 1-800-621-3362, or using the FEMA mobile app.

IRS aid

The IRS offers tax relief measures for taxpayers affected by natural disasters. This includes the extension of due dates to file returns and make tax payments, as well as the possibility of claiming disaster losses on tax returns.

Who can access?

Any taxpayer who resides or has a business in a declared disaster area is entitled to receive this relief. Specific details on eligible areas and relief rates are posted on the IRS website after each reported disaster.

How to Carry out the Procedure?

• Deadline Extension: The IRS automatically identifies taxpayers located in the covered disaster areas and automatically applies deadline extensions.
• Disaster Loss Deduction: Those affected can choose to claim losses on their tax return for the year the disaster occurred or on the previous year’s return.

Executive Summary

• Help Availability: FEMA and the IRS offer significant resources for those affected by hurricanes Milton and Helene.
• Eligibility: Residents and businesses in declared disaster areas can access this aid.
• FEMA coverage: Includes temporary accommodation, home repairs, medical expenses and funeral assistance.
• IRS Tax Relief: Extension of deadlines for declarations and payments, and possibility of claiming disaster losses.
• Application Process: It can be applied through the FEMA and IRS websites, by phone or through mobile applications.

At Regio Management, we are committed to the recovery and well-being of our community. If you need additional assistance to navigate these help processes, our team is here to support you. Do not hesitate to contact us for more information or assistance.