President Joe Biden has approved a federal disaster declaration for areas in New Mexico that are impacted by wildfires. The declaration makes federal assistance available for the victims of the wildfires. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is on the ground in several New Mexico counties assessing the needs of those impacted. FEMA says the easiest ways to apply for help are to visit the disaster assistance website and file an application online or call 1-800-621-3362. You'll need a current phone number, the address of the property that has been affected, photos of the damage and your social security number to register.Here's a Q&A from FEMA on what you can be reimbursed for during a disaster. Question: Can FEMA reimburse me for my lodging expenses?Answer: FEMA may be able to provide reimbursement for out-of-pocket lodging expenses that are not covered by insurance benefits such as additional living expenses or loss of use. A resident’s pre-disaster primary residence must be unlivable, inaccessible or affected by an extended disaster-caused utility outage to be considered.Question: I have insurance, can I still get reimbursed for my lodging expenses?Answer: By law, FEMA cannot duplicate benefits of insurance. Insurance policies may include Additional Living Expenses or Loss of Use coverage, which is a benefit that provides supplemental money to cover increased costs, including temporary housing, when you are unable to live in your home due to a loss covered by insurance.Lodging Expense Reimbursement (LER) from FEMA may only be considered if an applicant has not received lodging assistance from any other source (e.g., voluntary organization) for the same dates the applicant is requesting LER.Question: What information do I need to provide to seek reimbursement?Answer: To be considered for LER, eligible applicants must submit verifiable lodging receipts or itemized statements with the following information: The name of the applicant or co-applicant, information for the lodging provider (name, address and phone number), dates of occupancy and the amount of expenses incurred.Question: Where can I upload my lodging receipts?Answer: You can't. FEMA provides financial assistance for disaster-related necessary expenses and serious needs that are not covered by insurance or provided by any other source. However, FEMA encourages applicants with losses to apply for assistance so they may be provided with necessary referrals to voluntary agencies that may be able to help.Applications may also be submitted through standard mail at:P.O. Box 10055Attn: FEMAHyattsville, MD 20782-8055Or Fax 1-800-827-8112 (Cover sheet required)Question: When can I expect to receive reimbursement for my eligible lodging expenses?Answer: LER requests are manually reviewed by processing staff. In larger scale disasters, it can take one to two months after receipts are submitted to receive reimbursement.Question: Can I get reimbursed for my food or transportation costs while I’m staying at a hotel?Answer: No. Eligible expenses may include the cost of the room and taxes charged by a hotel or other lodging provider. This does not include costs for food, phone calls, transportation or other miscellaneous expenses.Question: Can I get reimbursed for food lost due to the disaster?Answer: No. Food loss is not covered by FEMA’s Individual and Households Program (IHP). Voluntary Organizations in the disaster area may be able to help you with food needs.Question: Does FEMA reimburse/cover the loss of secondary residences?Answer: No. Lodging expenses incurred while residing at the home of family or friends will not be reimbursed.Question: Does FEMA reimburse for loss of outbuildings (detached garages, sheds, barns etc.)?Answer: No. FEMA will provide disaster assistance to eligible applicants for a primary residence. FEMA will not consider more than one primary residence for a survivor and his/her spouse. FEMA defines your primary residence as the place where you live for more than six months of the year.