FEMA Completes 97 Percent of Inspections on Damaged Homes
Release Date: October 25, 2008
Release Number: 1791-190
» More Information on Texas Hurricane Ike
AUSTIN, Texas -- Inspectors contracted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are making great progress toward completing inspections of homes damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Ike. To date they have completed more than 350,000 inspections, or 97 percent of the requests submitted by homeowners and renters.
Damage inspections are free and generally take 30 to 45 minutes. They are conducted by FEMA contract inspectors who have construction and/or appraisal expertise and receive disaster-specific training. Each inspector wears official photo identification.
Inspectors document the damage but do not determine the resident's eligibility for disaster assistance. They check for damage to the building structure and its systems, major appliances and any damaged septic systems and wells. Residents should tell the inspector about other important losses such as clothing, medical equipment, tools needed for a trade and educational materials. Inspectors then relay this information to FEMA.
Disaster assistance may include grants to help pay for temporary housing, essential home repairs or other serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance or other sources.
Applicants are reminded to keep the contact information on their applications current so an inspector can reach them. To update their information, applicants should call FEMA's Helpline, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585.
FEMA's procedures for home inspections are as follows:
- An inspector calls the contact number provided by the applicant to set up an appointment.
- The inspector tries a minimum of three times to contact the applicant. The inspector will call at different times on different days in the hope of finding someone at home.
- If attempts to reach the applicant are unsuccessful, the inspector posts a letter on the applicant's door with a phone number to call for an appointment.
- If applicants have evacuated to another area and cannot return for the mandatory damage inspection, they can authorize an agent to be present on their behalf.
- As part of the inspection process, homeowners are asked to show proof of ownership, such as a tax bill, deed, mortgage payment receipt or insurance policy with the property's address. Renters must show proof of occupancy, such as a lease, rent payment receipt, utility bill or other document confirming the home was their primary residence at the time of the disaster. Both homeowners and renters must also be prepared to show a valid driver's license or other photo identification.
To speed the inspection process, applicants should:
- Make sure their home/mailbox number can be easily seen from the road.
- Keep their appointment or notify the inspector if a postponement is necessary.
- Stay in touch, including telling neighbors where they can be contacted.
If applicants discover additional damage to their property, they can request another inspection by calling the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585.
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.
Last Modified: Monday, 27-Oct-2008 09:03:50