Don't Misspend Disaster Assistance Money
Release Date: October 5, 2005
Release Number: 1604-047
» More Information on Mississippi Hurricane Katrina
JACKSON , Miss. -- With thousands of sizable disaster assistance checks being distributed to Hurricane Katrina victims throughout Mississippi , state and federal emergency officials are urging recipients to handle the money carefully and spend it only for disaster-related losses.
"This is a time when people are particularly vulnerable, and predators are quick to take advantage of them," said Federal Coordinating Officer Bill Carwile of the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). "When dealing with thousands of dollars, caution is the operative word."
Experience shows that disposition of assistance checks inevitably causes problems for some survivors in every disaster. Checks should be deposited in the applicant's bank account as soon as possible. Don't carry large sums of cash, and never deal with strangers offering check-cashing or deposit services, warned Carwile.
"This disaster assistance is intended to ease the pain of serious disaster losses, and it is to be used for that purpose only," said Robert Latham, director of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA).
Latham urged applicants to avoid the temptation to pay routine household bills with the money or to make purchases unrelated to disaster needs. He suggested they keep receipts of their disaster spending. FEMA may ask to see receipts of how the money was spent. It is also important to stay in touch with FEMA if their situation changes.
Hurricane victims who have not yet registered for disaster assistance should log onto www.fema.gov or call FEMA's toll-free line at 1-800-621-3362 (FEMA) or TTY 1-800- 462-7585 as the first step toward getting help .
Last Modified: Thursday, 06-Oct-2005 07:35:49