Inspectors Visit Homes And Businesses Destroyed Or Damaged By Wildfires
Release Date: November 10, 2003
Release Number: 1498-18
» More Information on California Wildfires
Pasadena, CA - Authorized inspectors are in the field verifying damages to homes and businesses caused by the recent wildfires in Southern California, state and federal disaster officials said today.
"Be sure to ask for photo identification from any inspector who comes to your door," said William Carwile, III, federal coordinating officer for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). "Disaster inspectors are there only to inspect your damage. If anyone tries to talk you into expensive repairs or requests a fee, call the FEMA fraud detection line at 1-800-323-8603," he cautioned.
The inspections began shortly after President Bush declared a major federal disaster at the request of California Governor Gray Davis on October 27. The five Southern California counties included in the presidential declaration are Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura.
All FEMA and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) inspectors have badges identifying themselves. Individuals whose homes were damaged or destroyed by the wildfires and who applied for disaster assistance can expect to hear from one or more of the following inspectors:
-
FEMA inspector/verifier. FEMA schedules an inspection after you apply for disaster assistance through the FEMA teleregistration line at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TDD: 1-800-462-7585. This inspection determines eligibility for various kinds of state and federal disaster help and takes only a few minutes. It is important to provide a current daytime telephone number where you can be reached, so the inspector can contact you to schedule an appointment.
-
Small Business Administration (SBA) loss verifier. If you apply for a SBA low-interest disaster loan, an SBA loss verifier will make a detailed assessment of real and personal property damage and any business loss. They will contact you by telephone for an appointment.
- City/county building and safety inspectors. Your city or county government may send an inspector to see whether a damaged structure is safe to enter.
"A visit from an inspector or loss verifier can open the door to a variety of assistance programs in the five disaster-declared counties," said State Coordinating Officer Dallas Jones. "Cooperating with the inspectors helps the recovery process, however, applicants for disaster assistance should make sure that the inspectors coming to their door identify themselves properly," he added.
The Governor's Office of Emergency Services coordinates overall state agency response to major disasters in support of local government. The office is responsible for ensuring California's readiness to respond to and recover from natural, manmade, and war-caused emergencies, and for assisting local governments in their emergency preparedness, response, mitigation and recovery efforts.
On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages Citizen Corps, the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Last Modified: Monday, 10-Nov-2003 11:05:58