How Long Will It Take?
Release Date: July 17, 2008
Release Number: 1763-098
» More Information on Iowa Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
DES MOINES, Iowa -- Iowans seeking to recover from the damage caused by the recent storms, flooding and tornadoes wonder how long the process will take.
To help set realistic expectations, recovery officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division (HSEMD) offer these guidelines on how long some of the steps are likely to take, based on past examples and on current facts from this disaster.
How long will it take…
- to register? Disaster registration at 800-621-FEMA (3362; or TTY 800-462-7585) for uninsured disaster-related losses usually takes 20-25 minutes. (Lines are open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., 7 days a week.)
- for a FEMA inspection? A FEMA disaster inspector will make an appointment to meet you at your damaged home, on average, within a week.
- to get money from FEMA? If the inspection shows you have uninsured eligible damage or need to rent housing while displaced from your home, a check can be printed and put in the mail within two days of the inspection. For those who have checking accounts and use electronic deposit, as most do, the funds are deposited almost immediately after being approved. The money usually arrives before the official letter explaining the award comes in the mail. However, the whole process can be delayed if key information is missing.
- to get alternative housing? Those who are unable to find housing, and let FEMA know that when they register or by calling back to the registration line, will be contacted by FEMA for follow-up interviews on their housing needs. FEMA and HSEMD continue looking for rental resources in the hardest-hit areas, and may be able to provide those who have registered with a list of possibilities. In the ten counties the state has requested it - Black Hawk, Bremer, Butler, Cedar, Des Moines, Johnson, Linn, Louisa, Muscatine and Wapello - manufactured housing may be made available. Installing and occupying those units takes several steps, including meeting local building codes and environmental concerns, and they are only temporary solutions. Providing this type of housing is always done on a case-by-case basis and the timeframe varies. The process often takes 4-8 weeks from when the request is made depending on these variables.
- for my insurance claim to come through? The number of claims after a disaster slows down the normal time for responding to insurance claims. For flood insurance claims, after an event of this size most claims are processed within a week to three months.
- for the debris to be removed? Since this disaster unfolded over weeks, beginning with the severe tornado damage in Parkersburg May 25, and the degree of damage also varies from place to place, answers will vary. Local city or county governments are the best source on deadlines for debris pickup in their areas. As for the picking up of hazardous material by the Environmental Protection Agency and its team of contractors who specialize in dealing with such material, the great majority of it in most of the state should be picked up by the end of July.
- for business to come back? Some businesses do very well in the aftermath of disaster, such as construction and related businesses, hotels and restaurants. However, many of the small businesses in areas with a lot of destruction will find themselves in a difficult environment for a year or longer as most people's energy and discretionary spending is focused on rebuilding. Those businesses may want to find ways to make their skills, services and resources part of the rebuilding effort.
- for our community to be like it was before? If your community had major and widespread damage, it will never be exactly like it was before. It will be different.
It can be better.
That is up to you.
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: Thursday, 17-Jul-2008 16:28:53