"This announcement provides relief to taxpayers who have been adversely affected by the recent storms and flooding in Louisiana that began August 11, 2016, (Louisiana Storms) and who have retirement assets in qualified employer plans that they would like to use to alleviate hardships caused by the Louisiana Storms. In addition, this announcement provides relief from certain verification procedures that may be required under retirement plans with respect to loans and hardship distributions.... The parishes included in the covered disaster area for the Louisiana Storms are identified in the News Release issued by the IRS for victims of the storms and flooding in Louisiana ... Plan administrators may rely upon representations from the employee or former employee as to the need for and amount of a hardship distribution, unless the plan administrator has actual knowledge to the contrary, and the distribution is treated as a hardship distribution for all purposes under the Code and regulations."