--- title: "FEMA Trailer or Insurance-Paid RV? Hurricane Housing Guide" url: https://agilervhousing.com/fema-trailer-vs-insurance-rv description: "Insured? FEMA won't pay for housing your policy covers. How a FEMA trailer works, and how Loss of Use can pay for an RV on your own lot." lang: en --- Disaster housing guide # FEMA Trailer or Insurance-Paid RV: Which Can You Get After a Hurricane? If you have homeowners insurance, FEMA cannot pay for housing your policy covers. For most insured homeowners, the housing money comes from the Loss of Use coverage in their own policy, and that can pay for an RV set up on their own lot. A FEMA trailer is a travel trailer or manufactured home that FEMA buys or leases and places for disaster survivors who have no other housing they can use. FEMA calls it direct temporary housing. In practice it comes with a major disaster declaration that includes Individual Assistance, and the state has to request it and FEMA has to approve it (FEMA Individuals and Households Program fact sheet (https://fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_ia_individuals-and-households-program-fact-sheet_032025.pdf)). FEMA also cannot pay for any need that insurance already covers. If wind, fire, or another covered peril made your home unlivable and your homeowners policy includes Loss of Use (also called Additional Living Expense, or ALE), your insurance is where your housing money comes from first. That coverage can pay for an RV on your own property while the house is repaired, once your adjuster approves it. ## What is a FEMA trailer? Federal law lets FEMA provide temporary housing units directly to households that, because of a lack of available housing, cannot use FEMA's rental assistance (42 U.S.C. 5174 (https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/5174)). FEMA's fact sheet describes a Transportable Temporary Housing Unit as a ready-to-use recreational vehicle or manufactured housing unit that FEMA purchases or leases. FEMA can place a unit at a commercial site with utilities, on a private site the applicant provides with utilities, or at a group site (44 CFR 206.117 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-44/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-206/subpart-D/section-206.117)). For a unit on your own property, FEMA says the site must be reachable by a heavy unit, have enough space, be safe from flood and landslide risk, and have working water, sewer and electric. FEMA also says every installation is a construction project. Before anyone moves in, FEMA finds a suitable site, completes a site inspection including zoning permissions from local government, completes environmental and historic preservation reviews, measures the lot, and confirms the utility hookups work. FEMA notes that travel trailers are the fastest unit to place but are not ideal for longer-term living (FEMA, Direct Temporary Housing Assistance in Florida FAQ (https://fema.gov/fr/print/pdf/node/688253)). ## Does FEMA give you a trailer if you have insurance? Usually not while your insurance can pay. FEMA's rule says it will not provide assistance when that assistance is available from any other source. For insured applicants, FEMA helps only when the insurance payment is significantly delayed, when the insurance is not enough to cover the housing need, or when there is no housing on the private market to use the insurance for (44 CFR 206.110(h) (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-44/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-206/subpart-D/section-206.110)). If you have insurance, file your claim first. FEMA asks for your insurance settlement or denial letter, and you have up to 12 months from the date you apply with FEMA to send it. If it has been 30 days or more since you filed your claim and you have received no money, FEMA asks you to call its helpline at 1-800-621-3362. FEMA may give you initial money to rent a place while you wait, but that money is a loan you repay once your insurance settles (FEMA, Submitting Your Insurance Documents (https://www.fema.gov/print/pdf/node/693214)). Even when FEMA does place a unit for a household that has Additional Living Expense coverage, its rule lets FEMA charge a fair market rent for the unit, up to the insurance benefits available (44 CFR 206.117(b)(1)(ii)(J) (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-44/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-206/subpart-D/section-206.117)). ## Is FEMA housing available after Hurricane Isaias? Not as of October 15, 2026. The federal declarations for Hurricane Isaias are emergency declarations for Florida (EM-3655-FL) and Alabama (EM-3656-AL), and neither includes Individual Assistance (OpenFEMA declarations data (https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v2/DisasterDeclarationsSummaries?$filter=declarationDate%20ge%20%272026-10-01T00:00:00.000z%27)). Governor DeSantis said on October 11 that once counties send in their damage assessments, he expects Florida to qualify for a declaration that would open up the ability to do Individual Assistance (WJHG (https://www.wjhg.com/2026/10/12/state-federal-leaders-detail-aid-panhandle-after-hurricane-isaias/)). Escambia County said on October 13 that no determination had been made on individual FEMA assistance, and that the county and the City of Pensacola would meet with the State on October 14 to discuss a joint preliminary damage assessment and begin the process of pursuing a major disaster declaration (Escambia County Update #10 (https://myescambia.com/news/news-article/2026/10/13/escambia-county-hurricane-isaias-update-10)). Governor DeSantis said on October 13 that the state's initial damage assessment is finished and that it is waiting on data from some counties before it submits a request (WEAR News (https://weartv.com/newsletter-daily/watch-live-gov-desantis-gives-hurricane-isaias-recovery-updates-in-jay)). FEMA's Individual Assistance guide says housing help under an emergency declaration is rare, and that all Individual Assistance programs may be authorized once a major disaster has been declared (FEMA Individual Assistance Program and Policy Guide (https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_iappg-1.1.pdf)). If a major disaster declaration with Individual Assistance is approved for your county, we will update this page. Either way, an insured homeowner's first step is the same: report the damage to your insurer and ask your adjuster about Loss of Use. Coastwide updates are on our Hurricane Isaias temporary housing page (https://agilervhousing.com/hurricane-isaias-temporary-housing). ## How long does it take to get a FEMA trailer? It can take weeks or months, because each unit has to be bought or leased, moved, permitted, installed and inspected. After Hurricane Ian, the President declared a major disaster for Florida on September 29, 2022. FEMA approved Florida's request for direct temporary housing on October 26, 2022, for Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto and Lee counties, and said units had to be transported, permitted, installed and inspected before families could move in (FEMA (https://fema.gov/print/pdf/node/645009)). In early December 2022, the Florida Phoenix reported only 13 households using FEMA direct housing, and Governor DeSantis directed state officials to provide travel trailers to displaced families (Florida Phoenix (https://floridaphoenix.com/2022/12/16/desantis-directs-state-officials-to-immediately-provide-travel-trailers-to-displaced-ian-victims/)). ## How long can you stay in a FEMA trailer? FEMA housing help is limited to 18 months from the date of the disaster declaration, unless FEMA extends it for extraordinary circumstances (44 CFR 206.110(e) (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-44/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-206/subpart-D/section-206.110)). After the 18 months, FEMA may begin charging up to fair market rent for the unit (44 CFR 206.117 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-44/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-206/subpart-D/section-206.117)). ## How does an insurance-paid RV on your own lot work? You tell your adjuster you want an RV on your own property as your Loss of Use housing and ask for the approval in writing. Agile RV Housing then delivers a fully set up RV to your lot. A licensed electrical contractor installs the power, and we arrange the contractor. We set up the water and sewer hookups. Delivery is about four days from approval to move-in, and the main variable is scheduling the electrical contractor. The rate is $120 to $140 a night, tax included. Delivery and setup are priced separately for each property. Stays run 60 days or longer, then month to month. The Florida Department of Financial Services lists alternative housing, utility installation and furniture rental for a temporary residence among the items Additional Living Expense coverage typically pays, and notes that ALE usually has no deductible (Florida DFS homeowners insurance toolkit (https://myfloridacfo.com/docs/consumer-services-libraries/consumerservices-documents/understanding-coverage/consumer-guides/english---homeowners-insurance-toolkit.pdf)). Your adjuster decides what your policy pays. In Florida, state law protects the RV too. After the Governor declares a state of emergency for a natural disaster, a county or city may not prohibit one RV or similar unit on the lot of a home made uninhabitable, for up to 36 months or until the repaired home gets its certificate of occupancy, whichever comes first. You must be making a good-faith effort to rebuild, the unit must be connected to water and electric, and you must live in it (Fla. Stat. 125.023 (https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2025/125.023), Fla. Stat. 166.0335 (https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2025/166.0335)). You also choose who provides your temporary housing. See choosing your temporary housing provider (https://agilervhousing.com/choose-your-temporary-housing) and how homeowners insurance pays for an RV on your property (https://agilervhousing.com/homeowners-insurance-rv-on-property). ## FEMA trailer or insurance-paid RV: how do they compare? | | FEMA trailer | Insurance-paid RV on your lot | | --- | --- | --- | | Who it is for | Disaster survivors who lack available housing and cannot use FEMA rental assistance | Homeowners whose insurance includes Loss of Use and whose home is unlivable from a covered loss | | What has to happen first | Usually a major disaster declaration with Individual Assistance, plus a state request and FEMA approval | Your adjuster's written approval | | If you have insurance | FEMA cannot pay for needs your insurance covers | Your Loss of Use coverage is the source of payment | | Where it goes | A commercial site, a group site, or your own lot if FEMA approves the site | Your own lot | | How long | Up to 18 months from the declaration, unless FEMA extends it | 60 days or longer, then month to month, within your policy's Loss of Use limit | | Time to move in | Weeks to months; each unit is a construction project | About four days from approval to move-in | Sources: 44 CFR 206.110 and 206.117, FEMA's Individuals and Households Program fact sheet, and FEMA's Direct Temporary Housing Assistance in Florida FAQ, all linked above. ## What if flooding was the only damage? A standard flood policy from the National Flood Insurance Program does not pay additional living expenses while the building is being repaired or cannot be occupied for any reason (44 CFR Part 61, Appendix A(1) (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-44/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-61/appendix-Appendix%20A(1)%20to%20Part%2061)). Florida's Department of Financial Services says the same thing in its homeowners insurance toolkit. Many hurricane claims involve both wind and water, and the adjuster decides what caused each part of the damage. If wind damage is part of your claim, your homeowners Loss of Use coverage can still pay for housing. If flooding is the only damage and a major disaster declaration with Individual Assistance covers your county, FEMA assistance is the program to apply for. Our flood insurance and temporary housing guide (https://agilervhousing.com/flood-insurance-temporary-housing) explains the difference. ## Sources - Federal Emergency Management Agency, Individuals and Households Program fact sheet (March 2025): https://fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_ia_individuals-and-households-program-fact-sheet_032025.pdf - 42 U.S.C. 5174, Federal assistance to individuals and households: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/5174 - 44 CFR 206.110, Individuals and Households Program: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-44/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-206/subpart-D/section-206.110 - 44 CFR 206.117, Housing assistance: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-44/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-206/subpart-D/section-206.117 - FEMA, FAQ: Direct Temporary Housing Assistance in Florida (November 14, 2024): https://fema.gov/fr/print/pdf/node/688253 - FEMA, Submitting Your Insurance Documents to FEMA (March 1, 2025): https://www.fema.gov/print/pdf/node/693214 - FEMA, Individual Assistance Program and Policy Guide, version 1.1: https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_iappg-1.1.pdf - OpenFEMA, Disaster Declarations Summaries: https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v2/DisasterDeclarationsSummaries?$filter=declarationDate%20ge%20'2026-10-01T00:00:00.000z' (https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v2/DisasterDeclarationsSummaries?$filter=declarationDate%20ge%20%272026-10-01T00:00:00.000z%27) - FEMA, Direct Housing Mission in Florida for Hurricane Ian (October 26, 2022): https://fema.gov/print/pdf/node/645009 - Florida Phoenix, DeSantis directs state officials to provide travel trailers to Ian victims (December 2022): https://floridaphoenix.com/2022/12/16/desantis-directs-state-officials-to-immediately-provide-travel-trailers-to-displaced-ian-victims/ - Florida Department of Financial Services, Homeowners' Insurance: a toolkit for consumers (March 2024): https://myfloridacfo.com/docs/consumer-services-libraries/consumerservices-documents/understanding-coverage/consumer-guides/english---homeowners-insurance-toolkit.pdf - Fla. Stat. 125.023: https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2025/125.023 - Fla. Stat. 166.0335: https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2025/166.0335 - NFIP Standard Flood Insurance Policy, 44 CFR Part 61, Appendix A(1): https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-44/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-61/appendix-Appendix%20A(1)%20to%20Part%2061 - WJHG, State and federal leaders detail aid for the Panhandle after Hurricane Isaias, October 12, 2026: https://www.wjhg.com/2026/10/12/state-federal-leaders-detail-aid-panhandle-after-hurricane-isaias/ - Escambia County, Hurricane Isaias Update #10, October 13, 2026: https://myescambia.com/news/news-article/2026/10/13/escambia-county-hurricane-isaias-update-10 - WEAR News, Governor DeSantis recovery update in Jay, October 13, 2026: https://weartv.com/newsletter-daily/watch-live-gov-desantis-gives-hurricane-isaias-recovery-updates-in-jay ## Frequently asked questions ### Does FEMA give you a trailer if you have insurance? Usually not while insurance can pay. FEMA will not provide assistance that is available from another source. For insured applicants, FEMA helps only when the insurance payment is significantly delayed, the insurance is not enough to cover the housing need, or there is no housing on the market to use it for. File your insurance claim first. ### How long can you stay in a FEMA trailer? FEMA housing help is limited to 18 months from the date of the disaster declaration, unless FEMA extends it for extraordinary circumstances. After 18 months, FEMA may begin charging up to fair market rent for the unit. ### Do you have to pay for a FEMA trailer? FEMA may charge rent in two cases its rules name: after the 18-month period of assistance ends, and when the household has Additional Living Expense insurance, in which case the rent cannot exceed the insurance benefits available. ### What if my insurance company is slow to pay? FEMA asks you to call its helpline at 1-800-621-3362 if it has been 30 days or more since you filed your claim and you have received no money. FEMA may provide initial rental money while you wait, but it is a loan you repay once your insurance settles. ### Can I put an RV on my property after a hurricane in Florida? After the Governor declares a state of emergency for a natural disaster, Florida Statutes 125.023 and 166.0335 bar a county or city from prohibiting one RV or similar unit on the lot of a home made uninhabitable, for up to 36 months or until the home's certificate of occupancy. You must be rebuilding in good faith, the unit must be connected to water and electric, and you must live in it. ### Will homeowners insurance pay for an RV while my house is repaired? Often, yes, when a covered loss such as wind or fire makes the home unlivable and the policy includes Loss of Use. Your adjuster decides what the policy pays. Ask for written approval of an RV on your own property as your Loss of Use housing. ## Talk through your housing options Tell us what happened, where the property is, and who insures you. We will tell you what your county allows, what to ask your adjuster, and whether an RV on your lot fits your claim. 24/7, and it costs nothing to ask. Call 24/7: (850) 605-4922: +18506054922 Request a Callback: https://agilervhousing.com/request-info ## Structured data ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://agilervhousing.com/#organization", "name": "Agile RV Housing", "url": "https://agilervhousing.com/", "logo": "https://agilervhousing.com/agile-rv-logo.png", "description": "Temporary RV housing placed on the homeowner's property during insurance-covered repairs. 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