The Disaster Relief Project provides information and legal assistance to victims of state-declared disasters that result from flooding, tornadoes and other natural disasters.

Offers free legal assistance to victims of state-declared disasters. Also hosts disaster preparedness workshops and presentations for the general public and provides ongoing training and webinars for volunteer attorneys.

With the help of pro bono attorneys, provides information, referrals, advice, self-help services, limited assistance and representation to qualifying low-income victims of state-declared disasters. The type of assistance provided depends upon the situation, the legal issue, and Legal Aid's resources. Services are free to those who qualify.

Common legal issues for which this program provides assistance:

-- Insurance Issues: Includes submitting claims, avoiding public adjuster fraud, negotiating insurance settlements, and filing an appeal.

-- Housing - Renters: Includes identifying the rights as a renter of a damaged unit, facilitating communication with landlords, negotiating early termination of a lease, resolving issues with renter's insurance claims, and recovering personal items from damaged rental units.

-- Contractor Fraud Issues: Includes hiring a contractor and avoiding fraud, reviewing work contracts/estimates, obtaining proper work permits for repairs, passing city inspection, and recognizing and preventing predatory lending.

-- Government Benefits: Includes applying for benefits and/or filing an appeal for denial of benefits, benefit award disagreement, or overpayment notices.

-- Housing - Owners: Includes negotiating payments, understanding a homeowner's options in real estate contracts, and obtaining disaster assistance.

-- Document Recovery: Including replacing lost documents (driver's licenses, birth certificates, Social Security cards, EBT cards, etc.) and replacing immigration documents.