EVACUEE ASSISTANCE INFORMATION
It is VERY important for every evacuee from Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana who has been displaced by Hurricane Katrina to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) by calling toll free 1-800-621-FEMA (1-800-621-3362) or registering online. This will begin the process for individuals in Michigan to receive assistance benefits and crisis counseling. It is important that those registering with FEMA maintain a current mailing address. Each time an evacuee moves, they MUST provide a change of address to FEMA. This should be done by again contacting FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA or on line at www.fema.gov.
The Michigan Department of Human Services (formerly Family Independence Agency) will be the lead state agency coordinating emergency assistance for Hurricane Katrina evacuees. Evacuees can contact any local Human Services Office by referring to the government pages of local phone books. The Michigan Department of Human Services will assist in school enrollment for displaced persons, employment assistance for those seeking work, filing for disaster unemployment benefits which is available for displaced workers and those who may have been self-employed, housing assistance, medical assistance, transportation needs, and other community based services.
The Michigan Chapter of the American Red Cross will support relief efforts in providing emergency services to evacuees by calling toll free 1-888-782-9322; and help you connect with your LOVED ONES by visiting their website at www.redcross.org or calling 1-877-LOVED 1S (1-877-568-3317).
The US Social Security Administration (SSA) is working hard to be sure that evacuees receive their benefit checks without delay. If recipients have not received their September 1 payments either by mail or direct deposit, checks can be issued immediately by contacting any local SSA office, calling 1-800-772-1313, or visit their website at www.socialsecurity.gov/emergency. Local SSA offices have the ability to speed up the normal 2 week waiting period for replacement social security cards, by immediately issuing a printout acting as a temporary card. This will be important for job placement, school enrollment, and medical assistance. Application for survivor benefits must be requested by visiting any local SSA Office.
The US Department of Labor can be contacted for job assistance or to receive disaster unemployment benefits by calling 1-888-4USADOL (1-888-487-2365). These benefits may also be available to the self-employed populations who have relocated.
Change of addresses should also be done through the US Postal Service to ensure evacuees receive their FEMA packets and social security benefits without interruption. Change of addresses can be done at any local post office or online.
To locate free or low cost legal assistance:
Visit the Michiganlegalaid.org home page and search for local
assistance by entering your zip code in the box marked “Find a lawyer,
organization or related service to help you with your problem.” or
Look under "attorneys" in the yellow pages to find your local legal aid office, or
Contact the Michigan State Bar Lawyer Referral Service at (800) 968- 0738.
Persons age 60 or older, regardless of their income, may be able to
receive free advice from the Legal Hotline for Michigan Seniors by
calling (800) 347-5297.
This article appears courtesy of the Michigan State Government.