Nov. 21, 2018 – Do you know community members – or clients – impacted by the flooding in Wisconsin earlier this year?

Victims of the devastating floods and storms in August and September may call the State Bar of Wisconsin hotline at (877) 947-5291 if they are facing legal issues and are unable to afford a lawyer. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Questions may also be submitted online at wi.freelegalanswers.org.

The types of legal assistance available include:

• assistance with securing Federal Emergency Management Agency and other government benefits available to disaster survivors;

• help with life, medical, and property insurance claims;

• assistance with home repair contracts and contractors;

• replacement of wills and other important legal documents destroyed in the disaster;

• help with consumer protection matters, remedies, and procedures;

• counseling on mortgage foreclosure problems;

• counseling on landlord-tenant problems.

The service allows callers to receive limited legal assistance from a volunteer lawyer. The hotline is a partnership between the State Bar of Wisconsin, the State Bar’s Young Lawyers Division, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Wisconsin Emergency Management, and others.

FEMA Assistance: Registration Deadline is Dec. 17, 2018

With federal disaster declarations made in affected counties, help is available. Individuals, families, and businesses in Crawford, Dane, Juneau, La Crosse, Marquette, Monroe, Richland, Sauk, and Vernon counties are eligible to apply for federal disaster assistance.

Residents and businesses in federally declared counties can register with FEMA at DisasterAssistance.gov or (800) 621–3362.

The last day to register for FEMA assistance is Dec. 17, 2018.

How to Give Help

Jeff Brown, State Bar pro bono coordinator, said the hotline is receiving calls from flood victims with insurance issues and other matters.

You can help by volunteering to:

• answer phone calls via the disaster hotline. Find out more by contacting Jeff Brown at jbrown@wisbar.org, and/or

• answer questions online. For more information, visit wi.freelegalanswers.org.

For information on other pro bono opportunities, visit the pro bono site on WisBar.org.

“We always need volunteers,” Brown said, “but we especially need them now.”