(Sept. 1, 2023)

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Long after the storm has passed, natural disasters often cause legal problems that last for years. With the two-year anniversary of Hurricane Ida on Sept. 1, Legal Aid of Southeastern PA (LASP) continues help low-income survivors with legal problems related to the storm in Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties.

From September 2021 to December 2022, LASP advocates worked with 124 survivors to handle complicated Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) applications and appeals, landlord-tenant problems, and other disaster-related legal issues. The window for FEMA appeals closed March 10, 2023.

But legal impacts from the storm continue.

LASP’s disaster relief staff attorney may be able to help survivors with mortgage issues, landlord-tenant issues, flood insurance disputes, consumer issues, and more.

To contact Legal Aid of Southeastern PA about a legal problem related to Hurricane Ida, please call our Helpline at 877-429-5994 Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., or apply online 24/7 at lasp.org/apply. This work is funded through a grant from the Legal Services Corporation.

In addition to working directly with Hurricane Ida survivors, LASP also was elected to the Southeastern PA Voluntary Organizations Active in A Disaster in December 2022. SEPA VOAD is a forum where organizations share knowledge and resources throughout the disaster cycle including response and recovery to help disaster survivors and their communities. As part of SEPA VOAD, LASP staff meet regularly with local nonprofits, emergency management professionals and others involved in the Hurricane Ida recovery effort.

Legal Services Corporation's 2018 Report of the LSC Disaster Task Force discusses the importance of integrating legal recovery with overall disaster recovery. The report notes,

"The recovery process does not end in the weeks immediately following the disaster. Instead, it may extend for many years, and community organizations may be faced with aiding survivors with long-term issues including contractor fraud, insurance and benefit issues, title disputes, social service eligibility disputes, replacement of significant documents, and housing issues such as evictions and foreclosures." (page 7)

The report also notes, "...low-income survivors are typically the hardest hit by a disaster and will face significant obstacles in their path to recovery."

LASP’s work on Hurricane Ida continues thanks to a disaster relief supplemental grant from Legal Services Corporation (LSC).

Some of the long-term legal problems caused by disasters:

Housing

Foreclosures
Landlord-tenant issues
Flood insurance disputes
Other housing disputes

Consumer

Bankruptcies
Disaster tax relief applications

General civil legal problems

Civil & disability rights cases

Hurricane Ida 2-year anniversary: LASP continues to help low-income survivors

Some of the long-term legal problems caused by disasters:

Housing

Consumer

General civil legal problems

Further reading

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