Can I claim deductions for costs incurred while helping with disaster relief efforts for the august 11 floods in louisiana?

[Marketstar]

You can deduct all of your out of pocket expenses as cash contributions as well as 14 cents per mile for travelling by auto in the service of your qualified volunteer organization (such as The Red Cross or FEMA).

See IRS Qualified Charity List

To enter volunteer contributions:

• Type in charitable contributions. in the search box, top right of your screen, then click the magnifying glass

• Click the jump to charitable contributions link in the search results.

• Follow the onscreen instructions to enter

   To benefit from the above, you must itemize your deductions.

  Unless you have enough itemized deductions (ie. Medical mortgage interest, property taxes, charitable giving, ect) to exceed your Standard Deduction, you will not be able to benefit from this expense.