If you’re a homeowner or renter in south-central or southeast Louisiana and Tropical Storm Arthur left you with damage, disaster-related expenses, or a home you can’t safely live in, FEMA might be able to help. The application deadline was extended, so you have until October 1 to apply for Individual Assistance.
Here’s what you need to know to see if this assistance applies to you and how to get your application in before the deadline.
What Happened and Why FEMA Is Involved
Tropical Storm Arthur affected Louisiana during the official disaster incident period of June 17–24, 2026, bringing flooding, wind damage, and other impacts to parts of the state.
The event received a federal major disaster declaration as DR-4927-LA, opening the door to federal disaster assistance in designated areas.
FEMA later extended the Individual Assistance application deadline by 30 days at Louisiana’s request. Survivors now have until Thursday, October 1, 2026 to apply.
The deadline notice doesn’t specify a particular cutoff hour or time zone, so don’t wait until the last minute to submit your application.
Which Parishes Are Covered?
FEMA Individual Assistance under DR-4927-LA is available to eligible survivors in these six designated parishes:
- Avoyelles Parish
- Lafourche Parish
- Pointe Coupee Parish
- St. Landry Parish
- St. Tammany Parish
- Terrebonne Parish
If Tropical Storm Arthur affected your household in one of these parishes, you may be able to apply for Individual Assistance.
If you live elsewhere in Louisiana, this particular Individual Assistance designation may not cover your parish. You can check FEMA’s current disaster information or read our general FEMA assistance guide to learn more about how disaster declarations work.
Some additional Louisiana parishes received Public Assistance under this disaster declaration. For example, East Feliciana, St. Charles, and Winn were among the parishes approved for Public Assistance.
That’s different from Individual Assistance. Public Assistance primarily helps eligible state, local, tribal, and territorial governments and certain nonprofits recover eligible public costs. It isn’t the household assistance program discussed in this article.
Who Can Apply for FEMA Help?
To apply under this disaster declaration, you generally need to be a homeowner or renter affected by Tropical Storm Arthur in one of the six parishes approved for Individual Assistance.
FEMA will then review your disaster-related damage, necessary expenses, and serious needs to determine what assistance you may qualify for.
Standard FEMA eligibility rules also apply. For example:
- You or another member of your household generally must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified non-citizen
- The damaged home generally must have been your primary residence
- FEMA will review whether your losses and expenses were caused by the declared disaster
- FEMA can’t duplicate assistance for losses already covered by insurance or another source
If you have insurance, file your insurance claim as soon as possible and tell FEMA about your coverage. You don’t need to wait for your insurance claim to be completely resolved before applying for FEMA assistance, but FEMA can’t pay for losses already covered by insurance.
FEMA may ask for information or documentation to verify your identity, occupancy or ownership, insurance, and disaster-related losses.
Keep photos, receipts, repair estimates, insurance documents, and other records related to the storm whenever possible.
What Kind of Help Could Be Available?
FEMA doesn’t give every applicant the same amount of money. Assistance depends on the household’s circumstances, eligible disaster-related needs, insurance coverage, and applicable FEMA program limits.
Depending on your situation, assistance may include help with:
- Temporary housing or rental expenses
- Eligible lodging expenses
- Certain repairs to an owner-occupied primary residence
- Certain disaster-damaged personal property
- Certain privately owned access routes, such as a private road or bridge, when disaster damage prevents safe access to a primary residence
- Other eligible serious needs and disaster-related expenses not adequately covered by insurance or another source
Not everyone will qualify for every type of assistance.
After FEMA reviews your application, you’ll receive a decision explaining whether you’re eligible and what assistance has been approved.
If you disagree with FEMA’s decision, read the decision letter carefully. It will explain what information FEMA used and what you can do next, including applicable appeal options.
How to Apply
You have several ways to apply:
- Apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
- Apply using the FEMA mobile app.
- Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.
- Have information about your damaged property, insurance coverage, and disaster-related expenses available when you apply.
- Keep supporting documents, receipts, photos, estimates, and insurance information. FEMA may request additional documentation as it reviews your case.
If FEMA contacts you about an inspection or needs additional information, respond as soon as possible so your application can continue moving through the process.
What About In-Person FEMA Help?
Be careful with older information about Disaster Recovery Centers.
A FEMA Disaster Recovery Center previously operated at the Terrebonne Parish Main Library in Houma, but that center permanently closed August 29, 2026.
Don’t travel to that location expecting to find a FEMA Disaster Recovery Center.
FEMA’s Disaster Recovery Center information can change as recovery progresses, so use FEMA’s current Disaster Recovery Center locator to check for available in-person assistance before traveling. FEMA’s DRC system is updated regularly with open and closed locations.
Applying for FEMA Assistance Is Free
You do not have to pay to apply for FEMA disaster assistance.
Be cautious if someone demands payment to submit a FEMA application or claims you need to pay a fee to receive FEMA assistance. Use official FEMA application channels and verify the identity of anyone who contacts you claiming to represent FEMA.
When Is the Deadline?
The deadline to apply for FEMA Individual Assistance for Tropical Storm Arthur under DR-4927-LA is:
Thursday, October 1, 2026
If you’re eligible and haven’t applied yet, don’t wait until the final day.
Relief Recap
If you’re a homeowner or renter in Avoyelles, Lafourche, Pointe Coupee, St. Landry, St. Tammany, or Terrebonne Parish and Tropical Storm Arthur left you with disaster-related damage or unmet needs, you have until October 1, 2026 to apply for FEMA Individual Assistance.
You can apply at DisasterAssistance.gov, through the FEMA mobile app, or by calling 800-621-3362.
For a deeper look at FEMA disaster assistance, including how the application process works and what documentation you may need, check out our guide on whether FEMA can help you.
If you need additional help with food, utilities, housing, or other expenses, our Help Near Me directory can help you look for programs in your area.
