As thousands of Louisiana residents do their best to recover, all parishes in Acadiana have been added to the Federal Disaster Declaration.

In todays’ Dial Dalfred report, News Ten’s Dalfred Jones has more on how to apply for government assistance, and how to check the background of hired help when rebuilding.

“Water damaged property, like what you see here, line the streets of Louisiana following historic flooding. As rebuilding and cleaning efforts take place, we must be mindful about who we hire to help with repairs.”

Sharane Gott is the President of the Better Business Bureau of Acadiana.  The agency’s website offers information on licensed contractors as well as the BBB’s signature torch to ensure the company’s accreditation to get that information.

During natural disasters, Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry says contracting scams are all too common. So to prevent contractor scams, the Department of Justice has implemented a new program.

Once you’ve found a reliable contractor, if you haven’t already, you should apply online for federal aid.

Make sure you’re able to provide a description of the damage, bank routing number, among other information @disaster assistance dot gov.

“If there’s an ongoing issue in your neighborhood or community, or you simply need a question answered, Dial Dalfred at 262-0868.

In Lafayette Parish, Dalfred Jones for KLFY News Ten.