When The President makes a major disaster declaration, the declaration might include an approval for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to offer money or other assistance to help people, families, and small businesses recover. Many disaster survivors ask for this assistance, but sometimes FEMA denies it or the survivor doesn't receive enough to recover. If this happens, the survivor has a right to ask for the money or assistance again by making an appeal.

This training will cover the FEMA appeals process and include specific information that attorneys and advocates should know about when working on a FEMA appeal with a disaster survivor that has a disability. Disability rights advocates, community librarians, disaster case managers, staff and attorneys at legal aid organizations and pro bono programs, attorneys interested in doing pro bono work after a disaster, and advocates from long-term recovery groups are welcome to join. Presenters will offer attendees 1) an overview of the FEMA appeals process and what they need to know when submitting an appeal on behalf of a disaster survivor or when helping them with their appeal and 2) guidance on using and adopting Pro Bono Net’s FEMA appeals digital tool (www.femaappeals.org), to create, edit, and print an appeal letter.

Trainer(s): Kendall Jarvis, Legal Aid of Sonoma County | Jeanne Ortiz-Ortiz, Pro Bono Net | Stephanie Duke, Disability Rights Texas

This training is co-hosted by Advocates for Disaster Justice, Pro Bono Net, Legal Aid of Sonoma County, Disability Rights Texas, and the Disaster Legal Assistance Collaborative with support from the Bigglesworth Family Foundation. It will be recorded and posted to www.advocatesfordisasterjustice.org. Trainings will have closed captioning.