Where to get “one-stop shop” assistance after a natural disaster

Did you know there is a “one stop shop” for Veterans seeking assistance after an emergency or natural disaster?

DisasterAssistance.gov. is a site that has the ability to deliver 70 forms of assistance from 17 federal agencies. There, users can apply for disaster assistance, check application status, identify FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC), find housing assistance and more.

Veterans can find information on replacing lost or destroyed medical equipment, service animal, benefits, caregiver support, housing, debt management, and replacing service records. To locate Veterans’ information on the site, go to the “Information” pull down menu and select “Veterans.” The information is available in both English and Español.

VA may also place mobile support vehicles and stage Public Contact Teams in recovery areas to offer easy access to its services.  Resources can include identifying Veteran status, evaluating available benefits – including medical and prescription – and assisting with housing case management.

Call or visit your local VA Medical Center or Community Resource and Referral Center if you are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless. Resources can be found on the link below or call the hotline.

• https://www.va.gov/homeless/.
• 1-877-4AID-VET (1-877-424-3838).

If you are a Veteran in crisis or concerned about one – free, confidential support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Veterans Crisis Line is available by phone, text or chat:

• Call 1-800-273-8255and Press 1.
• Send a text to 838255.
• https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/get-help/chat.
• Support for deaf and hard of hearing: Call 1-800-799-4889.

The best way to protect you and your family is to stay informed with local forecasts, have a preparedness plan, and heed guidance from local emergency management officials. Stay safe!

Kristin Daniel is an emergency management specialist for the Office of Emergency Management & Resilience.