FEMA aid after Hurricane Isaias in Florida: who can apply, the steps and how to spot scams

What has been declared

Hurricane Isaias now has a federal major disaster declaration in Florida. FEMA's OpenFEMA data lists it as DR-4955-FL, declared on October 27, 2026, for an incident period of October 6 to October 12. Florida made its request on October 15.

Help for individual households comes through FEMA's Individuals and Households Program, which is declared county by county. USA.gov puts it simply: "You must live in a presidentially declared disaster area to receive financial assistance from FEMA." Which kind of help depends on your county, so check that first.

Which counties can apply

FEMA's data, last refreshed on October 30, shows the Individuals and Households Program declared for eight counties.

• Bay
• Escambia
• Gulf
• Holmes
• Okaloosa
• Santa Rosa
• Walton
• Washington

The other seven counties

Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Jackson, Jefferson, Liberty and Wakulla counties are in the declaration for Public Assistance, but not for the Individuals and Households Program. That means households there can't apply to FEMA's Individuals and Households Program for now. All 15 counties, including the eight above, are covered for Public Assistance.

Declarations can be amended to add counties or programs. If you live in one of those seven counties, or you aren't sure your address counts, use the address lookup on USA.gov's disaster assistance page or call FEMA's helpline. USA.gov also notes that not everyone qualifies for every program in an area, and that FEMA has an anonymous tool to check what you may be eligible for.

How to apply: four ways

USA.gov lists four ways to apply for FEMA disaster assistance. Pick whichever is easiest for you. If your power or internet is still out, the phone line or a recovery center is often simplest.

1. Online at DisasterAssistance.gov.

2. In the free FEMA app, from your phone's app store.

3. By phone at 1-800-621-3362.

4. In person at a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC). USA.gov's page links to a tool to find the one nearest you.

FEMA's data gives December 28, 2026 as the last day to apply for this disaster.

What to have ready

According to USA.gov, to apply you will need:

• Your Social Security number
• Insurance information
• A description of the damage caused
• Your annual household income
• Contact information
• Bank account information for direct deposit

Before you start, and after you apply

Write the damage down room by room and take photos before you clean up or throw things away, so your description is clear and complete. Keep your insurance policy number and your insurer's name with you, along with a phone number where FEMA can reach you, even if you have moved out for now.

Give an email address and contact details when you apply. USA.gov says that is what lets you check your application's status later, in three ways: at DisasterAssistance.gov if you created an account, by calling 1-800-621-3362, or in person at a DRC.

Two more federal programs can help. USA.gov says people in a federally declared disaster area may be eligible for IRS tax relief, such as a filing extension, and that Disaster Legal Services gives free legal help to people with low incomes in a federally declared disaster area, including on insurance claims, lost documents, home repair contracts and landlord problems.

How to spot disaster-aid scams

After a hurricane, scammers follow the aid. USA.gov warns that imposters "may call, text, email, or knock at your door" pretending to be someone in authority, and may even fake caller ID so it looks like an official government number. What they want is for you to send money or a gift card or to share personal information.

Be wary of anyone who:

• Contacts you out of the blue offering to sign you up for FEMA aid, especially for a fee
• Asks for a payment, a gift card or a wire transfer to apply or to speed up your claim
• Wants your Social Security or bank account number before you have applied through an official route
• Pushes you to act right now, or says you'll lose your aid if you don't respond today

If something feels wrong

Stop and contact FEMA yourself, using only the four official routes above: DisasterAssistance.gov, the FEMA app, 1-800-621-3362 or a Disaster Recovery Center. Don't use a number or link from the message you were sent. USA.gov notes that, unless you contact them first, government agencies typically start with a letter, and that unexpected contact or demands any other way may be a scam. If someone says they're from FEMA, hang up and call 1-800-621-3362 yourself to check. USA.gov's list of ways to apply doesn't include paying anyone to apply for you.

CISA's advice on suspicious messages sums it up: "If a message looks suspicious, it's probably phishing." Report imposter scams to the Federal Trade Commission. USA.gov's where-to-report tool will point you to the right agency for other scams.

What not to do

Don't pay anyone to fill in your application or promise you a bigger payment. Don't give your Social Security or bank details to anyone who contacted you first, by phone, text, email, social media or at the door. And don't sign a repair contract in a hurry: Disaster Legal Services may be able to help with home repair contracts and contractors if you have a low income.

If your home came through the storm, this is a good time to check your own plan for next season. Our hurricane guide and family emergency plan cover what to do before the next storm, including keeping copies of key papers in your go-bag.