A FEMA Denial Letter May Not Be Final Word
Release Date: November 9, 2004
Release Number: 1539-263
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ORLANDO, Fla. -- If an applicant for disaster assistance receives a letter saying they have been denied help, he or she should not be discouraged or disappointed. It could be that an application was made before a particular county was declared eligible, or it could be that more insurance information is needed before a final decision can be made.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) does send out a letter to certain applicants that says their request for assistance has been denied because the applicant’s “home is not located in the designated disaster area,” or because they are “INS-Insured.” Receipt of these letters does not necessarily mean “case closed”.
“When Hurricane Charley was first declared eligible for federal disaster assistance, we received applications from individuals in then non-declared counties,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Bill Carwile of FEMA. “These applicants automatically were sent a letter saying they are outside the disaster area. But as soon as that particular county was added to the declaration, each application was immediately re-entered into our system.”
“Those who received letters saying their application has been denied because their home is not in the disaster area need not register a second time,” Carwile said. “If their county is declared, the application will automatically be looked at again.”
When registering for assistance, the caller was asked questions about what, if any, insurance they had. If they said that they had property insurance, they most likely received a letter stating they are being denied assistance because they are “INS-insured.”
These recipients should consider calling FEMA again at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) after their insurance claim is settled. “That code simply means that the victim has insurance,” explained State Coordinating Officer Craig Fugate. “It is not the final word on the applicant’s overall eligibility for assistance.”
By law, FEMA cannot duplicate what insurance already covers, or pay any deductibles. In some cases, they may be able to help, up to the program limits. Re-contact FEMA after a settlement has been made.
It is important to register with FEMA now. Occasionally, the insurance settlement process may take several months before it is final, perhaps even after the registration period has ended. The deadline to apply for disaster assistance is December 31, 2004.
Any applicant who receives a letter from FEMA stating that a claim for federal assistance has been denied because of insurance should contact his or her insurance agent and request a “delay of settlement” letter. That information, along with any new or important information that may have surfaced since they first registered, should be mailed to the address provided in the FEMA letter.
The applicant may also take an insurance settlement letter to a Florida State Emergency Response Team/FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) where recovery specialists will assist him or her in updating and appealing their application for assistance.
Any Florida resident with questions or concerns about how a private insurance carrier has responded to hurricane damage should visit representatives of the Florida Department of Financial Services at any of the Disaster Recovery Centers, visit the department’s web site at www.fldfs.com or call 860-413-3132.
If FEMA determines that an applicant is not eligible for a grant, he or she should still apply for a low-interest disaster loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Among the other programs that may still provide assistance are Disaster Unemployment Assistance, free crisis counseling, legal and tax assistance, and voluntary agency assistance.
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 the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 10-Nov-2004 12:14:03