Answers to Common Legal Questions after a Disaster This document answers common legal questions often asked by people affected by natural disasters (i.e., floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, ice storms, etc.) in Georgia.
By: State Bar of Georgia Young Lawyers Division
Loans
Emergency Loan Program
(Separate Website)
USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) provides emergency loans to help producers recover from production and physical losses due to drought, flooding, other natural disasters, or quarantine.
By: U.S. Department of Agriculture
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Spanish / Español
Financial Help After a Disaster for Older Georgians
If you are an older person who has been affected by a disaster, health problems or a limited income may make it more difficult for you to recover. Three Federal agencies, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Administration on Aging (AoA) are working together to assist you.
By: Federal Emergency Management Agency, Agencies on Aging, Small Business Administration
Fact Sheet about Small Business Administration Disaster Loans
In the wake of hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, wildfires, tornados and other physical disasters, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) plays a major role. SBA's disaster loans are the primary form of Federal assistance for nonfarm, private sector disaster losses. For this reason, the disaster loan program is the only form of SBA assistance not limited to small businesses. Disaster loans from SBA help homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and nonprofit organizations fund rebuilding. SBA's disaster loans are a critical source of economic stimulation in disaster ravaged communities, helping to spur employment and stabilize tax bases.
By: Small Business Administration
Taxes
Tax Relief in Disaster Situations
(Separate Website)
Special tax law provisions may help taxpayers recover financially from the impact of a disaster, especially when the President declares their location to be a major disaster area. Depending on the circumstances, the IRS may grant additional time to file returns and pay taxes. Both individuals and businesses in a presidentially-declared disaster area can get a faster refund by claiming losses related to the disaster on the tax return for the previous year, usually by filing an amended return.
By: Internal Revenue Service
Other Information
American Bar Association's Hurricane Relief Page
(Separate Website)
Contains pro bono resources for hurricane survivors and other information.
By: American Bar Association
Be Prepared: Be Ready for a Disaster
Keep important documents, cash, and other paperwork close by for an emergency in case you have to leave your home and can't return quickly.
By: Georgia Legal Services Program
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