The Whole Nine Yards

how to go about getting aid after losing everything you own to a house fire?

a family member of mine today lost thier home,cars.buisness,everything that they owned to a four alarm fire. and i am just trying to find any help for them that i can. the red cross gave them 3 nights in hotel and $250.which wont last long. please help with this problem with any answer that is positive. thank you for your help.

Public Comments

1. You should check into your state/county/city welfare office to see if they can help you. Usually Salvation Army will help too. Sorry for your situation.
2. Wow! Sorry to hear that. What about their insurance?
3. renters insurance would have been the smartest thing...you can try local churches. Many churches will donate food and a place to sleep/shower for a few weeks.
4. No insurance?
5. COMTACT F.E.M.A.
6. that's all the red cross gave them?? that's sad
7. Go to your local churches; the Catholic Church has a St. Vincent DePaul Society that can help. Also, Goodwill and Salvation Army may help with donations. I will pray for them.
8. contact insurance company-1st sign up for freecycle.org in your local area for free clothing, furniture, household items
9. I'm sorry to hear about the tradgedy in your family. Didn't they have any insurance? Maybe try local churches. Sometimes they do pancake suppers or something like that. I'm not sure if there are any other agencies than the Red Cross that handle these types of things.
10. Insurance if they had any, social services, holding a benefit dinner of some sort (very popular where I live for ppl and very helpful!). Good luck and God bless.
11. Salvation Army. Shop at Goodwill stores to help get a few belonging till they can replace them w/ new. Call people who are having a garage sale, and ask if they would be willing to donate the things that they didn't sale to this family.. or cut the prices on the better things. Insurance should kick in and pay! Go to the bank and get a 90 day loan until money starts coming in/ Our prayers and wishes are with them.
12. did they belong to a church? churches can be very supportive in situations like that. also, neighbors, friends & co-workers usually chip in and help. did anyone go to the hospital to get checked out? if so, the hospital has case workers that would be a good resource. If not, the fire dept. that helped put out the fire probably knows of local resources.
13. Call your local radio station. Usually they will reserve a spot for such an occasion. Give the size of all of the people in the house. Did they have a homeowners insurance? Also they should have had an insurance on their business. Do they have liability or full coverage on their autos. If they had full coverage they will receive compensation. You may also try the local churches who are always willing to help in these situations. I know how horrible it is to lose everything in a fire. It is painful to watch all of your memories go up in flames. God Bless.
14. Make sure they call their insurance companies asap. If they are members of a church they can take up a collection. Welfare may be able to help them but they only help people who don't have assets or jobs. Take up a collection in the neighbhorhood they are from and where the business was located. I do not know where they are from but where i am from in New Jersey they have organizations like the urban league and Catholic Community Services theypay money towards your move. I believe FEMA can help also. When God closes one door another one opens up this can be a new beginning once the smoke has cleared. THank God no one was hurt. Will Pray For You and Yours.