If you sustained damage from snow and ice during the winter storms and you have insurance, contact your insurance company and then FEMA. Your insurance claim information is needed to determine eligibility for federal assistance. FEMA can provide assistance for items not covered by insurance for homeowners and renters. You cannot receive assistance from both your insurance company and FEMA for the same damage. Doing so is insurance fraud and punishable.
FEMA provides financial benefits to eligible applicants who are not insured or underinsured, but those benefits occur after an insurance settlement. Disaster assistance may include financial assistance for temporary lodging and home repairs, low-interest loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster. FEMA can’t duplicate benefits from insurance or pay your deductible. If you are uninsured, the fastest and easiest way to apply for assistance is online at DisasterAssistance.gov. You can apply 24 hours a day, seven days a week, no waiting or delays.
FEMA cannot reimburse you for food lost due to a power failure. EMA aid is meant to help with items such as temporary rental, or home repair assistance.
The following types of assistance may be provided by FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program.
• Temporary Housing Assistance—Financial assistance to homeowners or renters to rent a temporary place to live if your home is unlivable because of the disaster, and you have no insurance coverage for temporary housing. If there no rental properties are available, as a last resort, a government housing unit may be provided in some areas.
• Lodging Expenses Reimbursement—Reimbursement of hotel expenses for homeowners or renters for short periods of time due to inaccessibility or utility outage, if not covered by insurance or any other program.
• Home Repair—Financial assistance to homeowners to repair disaster-caused damage to their primary residence, when the damage is not covered by insurance, to make the home safe, sanitary, and fit to occupy.
• Home Replacement— Financial assistance to homeowners to help replace their home destroyed in the disaster, when the damage is not covered by insurance.
• Permanent Housing Construction—Direct or financial assistance for the construction or repair of a home. This type of help occurs only in certain unique cases where no other type of housing assistance is possible.
Financial assistance is also available for necessary expenses and serious needs caused by the disaster, including:
• Child-care expenses.
• Medical and dental expenses.
• Funeral and burial expenses.
• Damages to essential household items (room furnishings, appliances); clothing; tools (specialized or protective clothing and equipment) required for your job; necessary educational materials (computers, schoolbooks, supplies).
• Fuel for the primary heat source (heating oil, gas).
• Clean-up items (wet/dry vacuum, dehumidifier).
• Damage to an essential vehicle.
• Moving and storage expenses caused by the disaster. This is moving and storage of essential household goods to prevent further damage, such as ongoing repairs, and returning property to the applicant’s primary residence.
• Other necessary expenses or serious needs as determined by FEMA.
FEMA does not provide assistance for small businesses impacted by a disaster. Our partner, the Small Business Administration (SBA), offers low interest loans for business damages. Also, we do not offer housing assistance for secondary homes, only for primary residence.
Apply at www.disasterassistance.gov and then selecting “Apply Online.” During the application process, be sure to select the cause of damage as snow/ice. If it is not possible to register online, call 800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585). The toll-free lines operate from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
Those who use a relay service such as a videophone, Innocaption or CapTel should update FEMA with their specific number assigned to that service.
- Log in or Subscribe to post comments.