How to file for post-hurricane financial aid
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A renter or a homeowner may apply for a personal property loan. With it, the SBA will lend you up to $40,000 to repair or replace clothing, furniture, appliances, automobiles, perishable food, even dentures and eyeglasses.

Homeowners may apply for a real property loan. With it, the SBA will lend you up to $200,000 to repair or restore your primary home. The amount you get from the SBA depends on your insurance settlement; if the insurance company drags its feet, you can get an SBA loan for the full amount and then assign any insurance proceeds to the SBA.

In some cases, the SBA will refinance your mortgage at a lower rate.

You can't borrow from the SBA to restore your vacation cottage if it's not your primary home. If you own rental property, you can apply for an SBA business loan.

Apply for grants, tax help and other assistance
You have to repay SBA loans. You don't have to repay grants. And FEMA coordinates a gamut of grants.

First, FEMA gives out emergency grants for disaster-related medical, dental and funeral-related expenses not covered by insurance. If a loved one dies in a disaster and you don't have the money to pay funeral expenses, this grant is what you need. You might be referred to one of the grant programs when you make that initial call to register with FEMA.

FEMA will give property owners up to $15,000 for emergency repairs to make a structure fit for habitation. The agency, together with the state government, gives out what are called Individual and Family Grants. These are given to people who are turned down for SBA loans because of inability to repay. They can be used for the same purposes as SBA loans. FEMA also offers grants to state and local governments for "hazard mitigation" -- elevating houses above a flood plain, for example, or strengthening structures in earthquake zones.

Believe it or not, the Internal Revenue Service will ride to your rescue, too. You can file an amended return called a 1040X and deduct your disaster-related losses against last year's income. This can be a lifesaver, because it means you can get a hefty tax-refund check in a few weeks instead of having to wait until next year to file a return. If you can afford to wait, you can deduct your disaster losses against your current year's income.