Insurance Doesn't Stop Disaster Assistance
Release Date: September 25, 2003
Release Number: 1492-15
» More Information on Maryland Hurricane Isabel
Baltimore, MD -- Don't despair if you receive a letter from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) stating that disaster assistance is not available to you. It may be that FEMA cannot complete an assistance evaluation process until any insurance claims are settled. Disaster-assistance applicants may still be eligible for disaster funds and other types of assistance.
Federal disaster assistance is designed to help with uninsured or under-insured losses caused by a disaster. Before making a decision, FEMA simply needs to know how much insurance is available to an applicant for disaster assistance before determining eligibility. Often, an application for federal assistance is held as "pending" until an insurance claim is settled.
Any Marylander who receives a letter from FEMA stating that a claim for federal assistance has been deemed ineligible because of insurance should contact their insurance company and request a settlement letter. That information, and any new or additional information gained since the initial disaster assistance application was filed, should be mailed to the address provided in the letter from FEMA.
Another option is to take the insurance settlement letter to a FEMA/MEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) where recovery specialists can assist the disaster-assistance applicant in updating and appealing an application for assistance. The address and hours of operation of Maryland DRCs are available by calling FEMA toll free at (800) 621-FEMA (3362) or TTY (800)-462-7585.
Any Maryland resident with questions or concerns about how a private insurance carrier has responded to hurricane damage should visit representatives of the Maryland Insurance Administration at any of the Disaster Recovery Centers, or visit the agency web site at www.mdinsurance.state.md.us.
If FEMA determines that an applicant is not eligible for a grant, he or she may still be eligible for a low-interest loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Disaster Unemployment Assistance, free crisis counseling, legal and tax assistance, or one of many other programs designed to help disaster victims.
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: Friday, 03-Oct-2003 08:47:25