FEMA Appeals
Katrina and FEMA Resource Materials
This page contains materials for pro bono attorneys across the country working on FEMA appeals cases through the Lawyers' Committee on Civil Rights Under Law and the Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project.
You can also join the Volunteer Resources area on probono.net/ms for other resources.
Note: These materials are provided as a courtesy. Availability of the materials through the site does not reflect an assurance of the accuracy or completeness of any of the materials. You may want to consult additional materials before responding to any inquiries. Useful websites for additional information include: FEMA, SBA, Lawyers' Committee,MS Bar.
Many of the links below open PDF or Word documents.
Orientation Materials
- Watch the video of the LCCRUL April 28th FEMA Appeals Training, hosted at the DC offices of Skadden Arps
- FEMA Appeals Training Agenda and Case Checklist
- Complete Sample Intake (prepared by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law)
- April 2006 Update: FEMA Appeals Deadlines and Timeliness
Getting Started
- Supreme Court of Mississippi Order Addressing Unauthorized Practice of Law
- Affidavit Pursuant to the October 14, 2005 Order of the Supreme Court of Mississippi in Matter Number 89-R-99018-SCT
(*Executed Affidavit Must Be Filed With the Court Prior to Accepting a Case - Refer to Protocols for Filing Instructions*) - Form: Authorization for Release of FEMA Records and for Legal Representation (FEMA form)
Sample Letters to FEMA
- Sample FEMA Pro Se Letters (prepared by Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Inc.)
Resource Materials -- Overview of FEMA Benefits
- Frequently Asked Questions (prepared by Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP)
- Help After a Disaster: Applicant's Guide to the Individuals and Households Program (prepared by FEMA)
Resource and Reference Materials
- FEMAanswers.org (hosted by the Shriver National Center on Poverty Law)
- Summary of Stafford Act Provisions and Implementing Regulations Governing FEMA Relevant to Hurricane Evacuees Assistance (prepared by Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP)
- Hurricane Katrina: Disaster Legal Assistance Reference Manual (prepared by Mississippi Bar Young Lawyers' Division)
- Disasters Survival Manual: Protect Your Rights by Knowing the Facts (prepared by Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law)(*Appendix Cof the manual includes Sample FEMA Appeal Letter*)
- Hurricane Katrina Helping Handbook (prepared by American Bar Association)
- FEMA & Other Benefits for Hurricane Katrina and Rita Survivors and Annotated Outline (prepared by Southeast Louisiana Legal Services & Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County)
- Presentation Regarding Benefits (opens a PPT file)
- Annotated Outline
- Resource Materials for Responding to Legal Questions from those Displaced by Hurricane Katrina (prepared by State Bar of Texas)
Information from FEMA and SBA
- Disaster Relief Information:
- Disaster Relief FAQs (downloaded from http://www.fema.gov)
- Applying for Assistance
- SBA Disaster Loans
- Disaster Loan Fact Sheet (downloaded from http://www.sba.gov/disaster)
- FAQs Regarding Disaster Loans
