U.S. Citizenship Not Required For Disaster Assistance
Release Date: October 15, 2002
Release Number: 1437-48
» More Information on Louisiana Hurricane Lili
Baton Rouge, LA -- Persons granted legal permanent resident status are eligible to apply for state and federal disaster assistance for damages and losses due to Tropical Storm Isidore and Hurricane Lili if they are residents of the 28 parishes that were declared as a disaster area by President Bush.
Benefits for eligible individuals and small businesses include funds for temporary housing and necessary home repairs, Individual and Family Grants, Disaster Unemployment Assistance, low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration and other means of assistance.
Requesting disaster assistance will not jeopardize a lawful permanent resident's application for citizenship.
A person who is not a qualified alien, but whose minor child is a citizen, may apply for assistance on behalf of the child.
The application for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance requires applicants to certify that they are either citizens or qualified aliens. FEMA conducts random audits of assistance applications to verify U.S. citizenship and qualified alien documentation issued by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS).
Eligible residents with damage to their primary homes should register for state and federal assistance at 800-621-FEMA (3362), or 800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing or speech impaired. The toll-free lines are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week until further notice.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 22-Apr-2003 13:40:04