2022
Page last updated: 05/23/2022
Puerto Rico was struck by a severe storm which brought flooding and landslides between February 4 and 6, 2022. On March 29, 2022, President Biden declared a major disaster.
People in the following Municipios are eligible to receive federal disaster assistance:
Click here for the full whitehouse.gov press release.
April 20, 2022 – A free legal help hotline is now available for Puerto Rico Severe Storms survivors. The municipalities approved for this major disaster declaration are Cataño, Dorado, Toa Baja, Vega Alta, and Vega Baja. Survivors can call (800) 981-5342.
Hotline hours are 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
For more information on the hotline, please see the official press release. En Español.
FEMA Application Deadline
Tuesday, May 31, 2022
Appeal your FEMA decision letter
Within 60 days of the date on the determination letter.
Applications for FEMA Assistance can be submitted by:
Phone: Contact FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY users can call 1-800-462-7585.
Online: Fill out the application at DisasterAssistance.gov
In-Person: You can also fill out the application at a FEMA Disaster Resource Center (DRC).
Mobile Registration Intake Center: MRICs move around regularly. They will be in an area for a short period of time to help survivors who need registration help. Visit FEMA’s Disaster Declaration page to find more information about the Mobile Registration Intake Center locations and hours.
Disaster Recovery Center: To find a Disaster Recovery Center near you, use the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s DRC locator or text “DRC” and your zip code to 43362 (4FEMA) to locate a Disaster Recovery Center in your area.
Due to the COVID-19 nationwide emergency declared by Former President Trump and the need to protect the safety and health of all Americans; FEMA will conduct remote home inspections for disaster survivors until further notice.
This fact sheet provides information about that process. It includes links to PDF and plain text versions.
As of June 1, 2022, FEMA is beginning to transition back to in- home inspections. Remote inspections may still occur if conditions make them necessary again.
Created by FEMA, this handout provides a basic overview what to expect after you have applied for assistance.
Este folleto, creado por FEMA, brinda una descripción general básica de lo que puede esperar después de haber solicitado asistencia.
Please check your local news and local officials for the latest safety and shelter resources.
Access information on Safety and Shelter assistance through the resources below.
Explore resources from the American Red Cross on how to stay safe and recover from a disaster.
FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) are accessible facilities and mobile offices you can visit to learn more about FEMA and other disaster assistance programs. You may also visit to ask questions about your case. DRCs are set up in convenient areas after a disaster to make them easier to find.
A DRC may be able to help you:
To find a Disaster Recovery Center near you, use the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s DRC locator or text “DRC” and your zip code to 43362 (4FEMA) to locate a Disaster Recovery Center in your area.
If an emergency has forced you to evacuate your home, the Red Cross may be able to help. Search for open American Red Cross shelters near you with the “Find an Open Shelter” Tool.
April 20, 2022 – A free legal help hotline is now available for Puerto Rico Severe Storms survivors. The hotline is available to connect survivors to free legal services in qualifying municipalities who cannot afford an attorney. The municipalities approved for this major disaster declaration are Cataño, Dorado, Toa Baja, Vega Alta, and Vega Baja. Survivors can call (800) 981-5342.
Hotline hours are 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
For more information on the hotline, please see the official press release. En Español.
The American Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division has teamed up with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to create Disaster Legal Services (DLS) — a program designed to help survivors navigate the aftermath of presidentially- declared disasters. The DLS program provides immediate temporary legal assistance to disaster survivors—at no charge.
Issues where DLS can help include:
Learn more through this short video.
(888) 743-5749
To help meet the growing legal needs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division has teamed up with RingCentral Inc. to create a national hotline to connect the Disaster Legal Services Program (DLS) with those seeking civil legal services.
(787) 721-3358
PO BOX 9021
San Juan PR 00908-0021
Professional association of lawyers.
(800) 981-5342
859 Avenue Ponce de Leon, Pda 26
Apartado 9134
San Juan, PR 00908
Provides free civil legal services to low-income people.