Making Repairs? Be Sure To Save All Receipts
Release Date: October 17, 2003
Release Number: 1485-14
» More Information on Pennsylvania Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
Harrisburg, PA -- As the people of Lackawanna County start to rebuild their homes and businesses damaged by the Labor Day week storms, disaster officials emphasize the importance of keeping receipts of material bought or work paid for to restore their homes and businesses.
"Save all invoices and receipts," said David Sanko, Director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. He also suggested that state and local governmental agencies involved in purchasing equipment for infrastructure, highway and bridge repair keep similar receipts for possible federal audits in the future.
"Records are important for tax purposes, to document claims of damage and loss, and to show how federal money was spent in case of U.S. Inspector General audits," explained Tom Davies, FEMA's federal coordinating officer in charge of the recovery effort.
Whether you have applied for assistance or are still waiting to apply:
- Save the receipts of every purchase you made to make your house safe, secure and livable.
- When FEMA/SBA inspectors check the damage, receipts will help them properly determine your losses.
- Take photographs of damaged property before you replace it. Be sure to show these to the inspectors.
People who have registered and have questions about the status of their applications can call FEMA's Helpline at 1-800-621-3362 or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for the speech- or hearing-impaired. This is also the teleregistration number for those who still need to apply for disaster assistance. The hours of operation for both are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. Individuals and businesses have until November 18 to apply for 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 Citizen Corps, the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Last Modified: Friday, 17-Oct-2003 13:15:48