July 15, 2024

North Little Rock, Ark. – The State of Arkansas and FEMA have activated Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) for individuals in Baxter, Boone, Fulton, Madison, and Marion counties who were impacted by severe weather on May 24-27, 2024.

Residents in these counties who have applied for disaster assistance through FEMA may be eligible to temporarily stay in a hotel or motel paid for by FEMA. To qualify, individuals must apply for FEMA Individual Assistance by August 28, 2024.

FEMA will notify those who submit an application of their eligibility for TSA through an automated phone call, text message, or email depending upon the method of communication selected when they applied for disaster assistance.

Individuals may be eligible for TSA if they cannot return to their disaster-damaged home and their housing needs cannot be met by insurance, shelters, or rental assistance provided by FEMA or another agency.

FEMA will cover the cost of a room, any associated taxes, and non-refundable pet fees under the TSA program. These are paid directly to participating hotels and motels. Pet fees will only be paid up to the approved limit of assistance or individual rooms. Individuals are responsible for all other costs, including laundry, restaurant or room service, parking, telephone, or movie rental.

Continued eligibility is determined on an individual basis. When eligibility ends, individuals will be notified seven days prior to their checkout date.

TSA is limited to participating hotels and motels in Baxter, Boone, Fulton, Madison, and Marion counties or the counties that border them. This includes participating hotels in Benton, Carroll, Crawford, Franklin, Izard, Johnson, Newton, Searcy, Sharp, Stone, and Washington counties in the State of Arkansas, and Howell, Oregon, Ozark, Stone, and Taney counties in the State of Missouri.

Applicants must refer to the TSA Locator to find a hotel at www.femaemergencyhotels.com and enter their FEMA registration number, obtained when they register for FEMA assistance. TSA participants may also be eligible for other FEMA financial help, including Displacement Assistance, Rental Assistance, Home Repair Assistance, and other aspects of the Individual Assistance program.

To apply for FEMA assistance, homeowners and renters can:
• Visit a Disaster Recovery Center. Find an available center at www.fema.gov/drc.
• Go online to www.disasterassistance.gov.
• Download the FEMA App for mobile devices.
• Call the FEMA helpline at (800) 621-3362 between the hours of 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. Help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service.

The Arkansas Division of Emergency Management (ADEM) is the state’s homeland security and preparedness agency. The agency works to identify and lessen the effects of emergencies, disasters and threats to Arkansas by developing effective prevention, preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery actions for all disasters and emergencies. For additional information, contact ADEM at (501) 683-6700 or visit the website at www.adem.arkansas.gov.