Learn what information to include and how to submit an appeal
Residents impacted by Hurricanes Helene or Milton may have completed an application seeking assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Once FEMA has reviewed the application, the resident will receive a letter explaining whether the request has been approved. If the request was not approved, residents may appeal the decision, which must be submitted within 60 days of the date of the decision letter.
What to include with the appeal
FEMA’s decision letter provides additional information on documents or information that residents may need to provide for the appeal. The letter will also include an optional appeal form that may be used to help provide additional information.
Supporting documents may include:
- Receipts
- Bills
- Repair estimates
- Property titles or deeds
- Any other information that may support your reasons for the appeal
When submitting any documentation or information to FEMA, residents must include on every page:
- FEMA application number
- FEMA disaster number (DR-4806-FL for Hurricane Debby, DR-4828-FL for Hurricane Helene and DR-4834-FL for Hurricane Milton)
For appeals by a third party, the applicant or co-applicant must also have a valid Written Consent on file for the third party with authorization to appeal or represent the applicant at the time of inspection.
How to submit an appeal
Residents can submit their appeal and supporting documentation in three ways:
- Online at DisasterAssistance.gov. Log into the account and upload supporting documents via the Correspondence Upload Center.
- By mail: FEMA Individuals & Households Program, National Processing Center P.O. Box 10055 Hyattsville, MD 20782-8055
- By fax: (800) 827-8112, Attention: FEMA - Individuals & Households Program
After submitting your appeal
All FEMA appeals are reviewed, and decisions are typically made within 30 days of receiving the appeal. However, it may take up to 90 days for a decision. Additional information may be requested from the resident if FEMA does not have enough information to make a decision. Residents will be notified in writing of the response to their appeal, either by mail or via the DisasterAssistance.gov account they created when they applied with FEMA.
Stay in touch
Stay in touch with FEMA to ensure your disaster assistance application is on track. Make sure you don’t miss important calls or correspondence by notifying FEMA of changes to your phone number, current address, and banking or insurance information. Phone calls from FEMA may come from unidentified numbers.
Visit the FEMA resources webpage to learn how to update your information with FEMA and check on your application status.