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04/11/2008
Federal Government and Insurance Industry Resources for Hurricane Relief
Support for REALTORS® and others in the daunting task of disaster recovery.
The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® has aided in the creation of two Web sites where anyone can post information on available housing in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and any other U.S. state. If you have information on housing, you can post it - if you need housing, there will be information on shelter available. Florida housing information is also available at http://www.dhronline.org/.
In addition to these NAR resources, people may want to consult the following agencies:
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) -- http://www.fema.gov/
FEMA's mission is to help people before, during and after disasters.
The Disaster Assistance Process for Individuals -- http://www.fema.gov/about/process/
- U.S. Small Business Administration -- http://www.sba.gov/
One of SBA's missions is to help people recover from natural disasters by providing financial assistance to homeowners, renters and businesses.
How to Apply for SBA Disaster Loan Assistance After a Declared Disaster -- http://www.sba.gov/disaster_recov/loaninfo/dloanassit.html
- Department of Commerce -- http://www.commerce.gov/
In the coming months, this agency's primary mission will be to get the region's economy up and running through grants and loans.
- Federal Trade Commission
One of FTC's mandates is to protect consumers against unfair, deceptive, or fraudulent practices.
After a Disaster: Repairing Your Home -- http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/distalrt.htm
- Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) -- http://www.hud.gov/
HUD will assist in coordinating the response for housing needs for hurricane victims.
- Insurance Information Institute -- http://www.iii.org/
III's mission is to improve public understanding of insurance, and they have set up special toll-free numbers to assist policyholders with hurricane-related claims
- State Emergency Management Agencies
These state agencies are coordinating emergency response and recovery activities in their respective states.
http://www.ema.alabama.gov/
http://www.ohsep.louisiana.gov/
http://www.msema.org/
- Environmental Protection Agency -- http://www.epa.gov
The EPA will be coordinating hazardous cleanup activities and assisting in response and recovery.
- Army Corps of Engineers -- http://www.usace.army.mil/
The Corps is responsible for repairing the levees and pumping the water out of the city and surrounding areas.
- Federal Reserve System -- http://www.federalreserve.gov/
Bank regulatory agencies are helping to ensure that banking and financial systems are operational in the impacted areas.
- Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
The GSEs are assisting victims of the hurricane by stabilizing the mortgage system and allowing greater flexibility for mortgage payments.
http://www.fanniemae.com/index.jhtml
http://www.freddiemac.com/
- Department of Agriculture
This agency is helping to stabilize the food supply in affected areas, assisting in search and recovery operations and providing assistance through the rural housing service
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdahome
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/
- Veterans Administration
This department is assisting in evacuations and recovery efforts.
http://www1.va.gov/opa/katrina/
http://www.homeloans.va.gov/docs/va_policy_regarding_natural_disasters.doc
Read more about NAR's Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. |
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