Insured? Register With FEMA Anyway 

Release Date: October 25, 2005
Release Number: 1603-113

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BATON ROUGE, La. -- Louisiana residents who suffered damages and losses as a result of Hurricanes Katrina and/or Rita are reminded to register with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for disaster assistance even if they have insurance. Affected residents may be eligible for assistance not covered by insurance policies.

Applicants do not have to wait for an insurance adjuster before applying for disaster assistance or making necessary repairs to their homes. However, residents should find out what their policy covers and be sure to keep papers and receipts for any repair work.

While many individuals and families have homeowners’ insurance policies, many are not adequately protecting their homes. That’s why it is important to register for assistance even while working with an insurance company. FEMA does not duplicate insurance benefits, but applicants may be eligible for assistance with losses not covered by their insurance.

How much help can FEMA provide? Each case is handled on an individual basis depending on the amount of damages, the homeowner’s insurance coverage and the type of damages incurred. Help may include temporary housing and/or repairs; grants for personal property; and medical, dental, funeral or transportation expenses.

Affected residents and business owners in the designated parishes can begin the disaster-application process by calling the toll-free registration number, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) 24 hours a day, seven days a week. People with a speech- or hearing-impairment can call a special TTY number at 1-800-462-7585. Applicants may also register online at www.fema.gov.

Last Modified: Tuesday, 25-Oct-2005 11:07:17