Hurricane Ida Resources

Here is a collection of hurricane resources collected by HDC staff that benefit individuals, children, and families.

FEMA Assistance

• Home site for Louisiana Hurricane Ida: https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4611
• Disaster Assistance – The fastest way to apply is through DisasterAssistance.gov. You can also apply by calling 1-800-621-3362 (TTY 1-800-462-7585) or through the FEMA mobile app.
• Important Information for People with Disabilities When Applying for Assistance – This video encourages people with disabilities or others with access and functional needs to reply ‘Yes’ to Question #24 when applying for FEMA disaster assistance.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk4anGzPWsI
• ASL FEMA Fact Sheets: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMR8ean5xQo&list=PL720Kw_OojlLw8Gie2MSAX5DQGb0-AFoj&t=1s
• FEMA Transitional Housing: Individuals in affected parishes may be eligible to get free short-term housing at participating hotels. Visit www.femaevachotels.com to see a list of participating hotels.
• FEMA has extended its September 12, 2021 deadline to September 22, 2021 for the following assistance:
  • Specific assistance related to urgent needs or power outages  
  • Rapid financial assistance for critical needs – food, water, fuel for transportation, prescription medications
  • Expedited rental assistance for evacuation to hotels or relocation due to power outage.
• FEMA deadline of October 28^th is for grants for damage and serious needs not covered by insurance including:
  • Basic home repairs to a primary residence to help restore habitability (for homeowners)
  • Temporary rental assistance for people who need to relocate because a home is uninhabitable (for homeowners and renters)
  • Other needs, such as replacing essential personal property and other disaster expenses (homeowners and renters)
  • Money for chainsaws and generators may be available
  • Survivors whose primary home is in one of the 25 designated parishes may be eligible to receive reimbursement for the purchase or rental of a generator up to $800.
  • The generator must have been purchased or rented between Aug. 26, 2021 and Sept. 25, 2021.
  • The reimbursement amount for the purchase or rental of a chainsaw up to $250 for this disaster

State Resources

• Local resources: Visit your parish or city’s website to get the latest information. You can find the your local parish’s emergency website at Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (OHSEP) Contacts: https://gohsep.la.gov/ABOUT/PARISHPA
• State of Louisiana Hurricane Updates homepage: https://hurricanerecovery.la.gov/?fbclid=IwAR1Nf5d1szA2y_sGA1yag8C9lP3WDN4XFhb5h0X2-ggvQm_WpvXc0EpmCR8
• Hurricane Ida Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) and other updates from Louisiana Workforce Commission: https://www.laworks.net/
• Disaster SNAP (D-SNAP) Guide: Families who don’t normally qualify for SNAP may qualify for D-SNAP. The Louisiana Budget Project put together a guide to D-SNAP so Louisianans can have a better understanding of what to expect and how to access this important benefit. We encourage families to pre-register now so that they can get benefits sooner once the program is launched. Download the guide: https://www.labudget.org/2021/09/louisiana-d-snap-guide/
• LSU Health New Orleans Emergency Alert page and other resources: https://911.lsuhsc.edu/
• Medical Needs for Disabled People and Individuals over 60: Call the Emergency Management Disability and Aging Coalition’s hotline at 1-800-270-6185 if you are disabled or over 60 and in need of medical equipment (such as assistive devices charging adapters) or medication due to the hurricane or evacuation. Flyer: http://goea.louisiana.gov/assets/EMDAC_ShelterFlyer_Ida_2021.08.31.pdf

Resources for Young Children

• Video: Sesame Street Gets Through a Storm – https://youtu.be/SEz1yb3WPwA
• Social Narrative by LSU Health Sciences Center – New Orleans, School of Allied Health Professionals: “When the Lights Went Out: A Story about Hurricane Ida” — https://alliedhealth.lsuhsc.edu/clinics/docs/WhenTheLightsWentOut-AStoryAboutHurricaneIda.pdf

Resources for Families

As posted by Agenda for Children

• FEMA Child Care Assistance: FEMA may reimburse eligible disaster survivors for increased disaster-caused financial child care costs. Learn more in FEMA’s fact sheet on child care assistance. Eligible families can seek reimbursement for disaster-related child care costs for children 13 and younger, as well as disabled youth up to age 21 who need assistance with activities of daily living. https://www.childcareservices.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/FACTSHEETChildCareAssistanceFINAL2019CompliantJR.pdf
• Infant Feeding Hotline: Birthmark Doulas is offering a 24/7 hotline for infant feeding questions and any other questions parents of young children may have. Call them at (504) 535-4223.
• TIKES: Tulane’s TIKES program is providing free tele-mental-health support for parents and caregivers affected by Hurricane Ida. Visit their website to request a session: https://medicine.tulane.edu/departments/clinical-sciences/psychiatry/research/tikes/support-parents-teachers
• Talking to Children about Disasters: This publication from the American Academy of Pediatrics gives practical tips on how to support your children after a hurricane or other disaster. Learn more: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/emotional-wellness/Pages/Talking-to-Children-about-Disasters.aspx
• Helping Children Cope During and After a Disaster: This guide from the CDC helps you support your children and gives you ideas of common reactions by age. Learn more: https://www.cdc.gov/childrenindisasters/children-disaster-help.html
• Shelter from the Storm: A Parent’s Guide: a guide (available in English and Spanish) created by Zero to Three and Save the Children to help parents support young children during and after  a disaster. Learn more: https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/1663-shelter-from-the-storm-a-parent-guide
• Helping your child prepare for a storm and its aftermath: A coping toolkit for families: ReadyRosie (Teaching Strategies) and the Center for School Behavioral Health at Mental Health America of Greater Houston created this free resource for families and schools. Learn more: https://www.readyrosie.com/en/storm-prep/

COVID-19 Resources

• NOLA Ready COVID-19 Resource Calendar: https://ready.nola.gov/incident/coronavirus/calendar/
• HDC’s COVID-19 Round-up: https://www.hdc.lsuhsc.edu/covid19_resources.aspx

Mental Health Resources

• Keep Calm Line — 1-866-310-7977 | Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All calls are confidential.
• 211 VIA Link  — 211 is a free information and referral service that connects people to health and human services in their community 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Provides information and referrals to health, human and Social Service organizations. 
• LA Healthcare Connection – 866-595-8133
• LA Spirit has a 24/7 hotline for mental health support at 1-800-256-2522
• Suicide Prevention Lifeline — 1-800-273-8255 (TALK) — Suicidepreventionlifeline.org | The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.
• Louisiana Spirit — http://new.dhh.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/page/201 — 1-866-310-7977 | Federally funded crisis counseling and stress management program for individuals, families and groups affected by disasters across the State of Louisiana.
• Disaster Distress Helpline — https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline — 1-800-985-5990 or text “TalkWithUs” to 66746 | SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) provides crisis counseling and support to people experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters.
• FEMA’s  @distressline is available anytime to provide you with confidential emotional support. Call or text 1-800-985-5990 to speak with someone today.