Hurricane Ida came barreling ashore in Louisiana after going from an unorganized mass of rain showers to a Category 4 storm in just 3 days. It also came in with such powerful 150 mile per hours winds, it tied as the most powerful to hit Louisiana’s shores. Ida spent 9 hours as a Category 4 storm once coming ashore, before dropping to a Category 3 storm.

Ida didn’t stop there. From the mass of damage in Louisiana, tornadoes touched down in 6 other states. 17 inches of rain came crashing down on areas from New Orleans to Philadelphia to New York City.

Of course, if you’ve survived the storm, you already know its profound impact. Now you need contact information to get the help you need to recover from Ida’s powerful wallop.

Part of disaster preparedness is having the emergency contact information for help when you need it. Read on to learn the contact information for many sources of help following Hurricane Ida.

Get Prepared

First, it makes sense to get prepared before a hurricane is coming. Get the phone numbers you might need well in advance of needing them. When you get to the stage of needing them, it might be too late to access them.

Many people will save phone numbers on their mobile devices. If you go many days without power and can’t charge your phone, you won’t be able to access those numbers. You might, in addition to saving on your mobile device, also record numbers on paper and put them in a safe place or even keep them on you.

Start Local

Think about the numbers you need to save for family, friends, and local resources.

Make sure you have all family members’ numbers saved in your phone and identified as family. In the event of an emergency, local emergency responders could use this information to contact the family on your behalf.  You also want to be able to check on your family, friends, and at-risk neighbors.

Then you want to have the local contact information for your closest police station, fire, ambulance, and other emergency services.

Shelter Options

You might not want to go to a shelter, preferring to stay in your home. Sometimes, though, it isn’t really an option. Take the time ahead of the storm to research local shelter-in-place options. Typically, your local police department can provide this information.

You might decide to stay in your home, only to have too much damage and need to get to a safe place to stay. You want to know where you can go.

Professional Services

You want to have a recorded the names and numbers of those people who provide services for you.

Most importantly will be your insurance company claims number. Following a storm, you want to be able to quickly make a claim for damages.

You also want the names and numbers of your medical providers including:

  • Doctors
  • Local hospital and ER
  • Pharmacy
  • Healthcare insurance information

Finally, as you navigate claims following the hurricane, it’s likely you’ll need help dealing with your insurance company and getting your claims paid. Make sure you have the contact information for an experienced attorney who knows how to handle hurricane claims.

Resources for Help

There are a variety of resources that can provide help and services following a hurricane. If you’re suffering the impact of Ida, you want to take advantage of these resources and get as much assistance as is available to you.

Let’s take a closer look at some resources for you and their contact information.

Samaritan’s Purse

Samaritan’s Purse is an international relief organization offering support and resources to those impacted by Ida and other natural disasters.

They have both resources for those in need and volunteer opportunities if you’re in a position to help others. You can contact them here to learn more.

Americares

Americares is another international organization working to help those in poverty who are facing adversity from the hurricane. They offer:

  • Emergency services
  • Access to medicine
  • Clinical services
  • Community health resources

You can find out more about their services for Hurricane Ida here.

American Red Cross

The American Red Cross is a well-known relief organization. They are actively working with their partners across the country to aide those impacted by Hurricane Ida, from Louisiana to up the northeastern coast.

You can contact them by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) or download the free Red Cross Emergency app by searching “American Red Cross” in your app store.  You can also go to redcross.org/apps. for shelter locations.

FEMA

FEMA or the Federal Emergency Management Agency is already in Louisiana providing support and relief for those impacted by Ida.

To access aid or to apply for assistance, visit this site for all of their contact information.

USDA

The USDA or United States Department of Agriculture is also offering support services for those impacted by Ida. If you need food, they are working with local partners and food shelters to distribute 800,000 boxes of food into the area.

US Government Departments

There are a variety of other departments of the US government that are involved in providing support services. This ranges from support with health problems to food and financial support to information on rebuilding. There are resources for temporary housing if your home is uninhabitable.

Visit this site for a long list of federal resources available to you.

Internal Revenue Service

The IRS or Internal Revenue Service has created an extension for those impacted by Ida who need to file individual and business tax returns or make tax payments.

They also have other resources available here related to tax and disaster relief.

Be Ready for Any Emergency With the Contact Information You Need for Help

If you were impacted by Hurricane Ida, there’s no doubt you’re looking for help. Use the contact information here to reach out to the many organizations providing support.

We can help you too. If you’re struggling with insurance claims or you can’t get your insurance company to respond, let us help you. Contact us today so we can review your needs and get you the help you need.