FEMA May Repay Generator Costs Only If Documented Medical Need
Release Date: September 11, 2008
Release Number: 1786-014
» More Information on Louisiana Hurricane Gustav
BATON ROUGE, La. -- If residents purchased or rented generators in the aftermath of Hurricane Gustav, they must show that it was to support a documented medical need in order to receive reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Residents must provide proof that the generator is necessary to provide power for equipment such as kidney dialysis machines, apnea monitors for infants, oxygen concentrators, respirators, ventilators and feeding pumps.
"We know life is extremely difficult for residents following this disaster, especially if they don't have power," said FEMA's Federal Coordinating Officer Mike Hall. "We want to ensure that people with medical needs receive assistance and are not put in danger because they don't have a generator."
FEMA will not duplicate the cost of rented or purchased generators that are funded by other sources, such as Medicare, Medicaid, or household or medical insurance. Federal law prohibits duplicate payments or reimbursements for assistance provided by insurance.
The guidelines for eligible reimbursement, which are in effect for all disasters occurring after June 1, 2006, are very specific.
Under these guidelines, anyone seeking reimbursement for a purchased or rented generator must live in a parish that is designated as eligible for FEMA's Individual Assistance program under this presidential disaster declaration. These parishes are: Acadia, Allen, Ascension, Assumption, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Cameron, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, Rapides, Sabine, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Vermilion, Vernon, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana.
Residents also must provide proof-of-purchase or rental receipts dated between the date the disaster was declared, which is Sept. 2, 2008, and either the date that power was restored to the applicant's dwelling or the date of the end of the incident period, whichever occurs first. FEMA and the state will not reimburse costs for generators rented or purchased outside of this timeframe.
In order to be considered for this and other types of assistance, Louisiana residents who suffered damage or loss from the hurricane are urged to register with FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) (TTY 1-800-462-7585) as the first step toward getting help.
FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
This release has been modified from its original version.
Last Modified: Thursday, 11-Sep-2008 11:47:13