Hurricane Victims Ask: "How Long Will It Take?" 

Release Date: October 21, 2004
Release Number: 1539-220

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ORLANDO, Fla. -- Many Floridians ask how long recovery from the hurricanes will take.

Officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the State Emergency Response Team (SERT) respond that answers vary because of different issues involved in the questions. Here are some of the best estimates on timelines for various FEMA and SERT services and why they may differ in various places:

Registration: The initial step all persons should take to start the assistance process is to call their insurance agent to determine coverage their policy provides. Next, the applicant should call the FEMA toll-free registration number. That process normally takes less than half an hour. FEMA has sharply increased the number of available phone lines. Phone lines are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but victims are urged to call early in the morning and late at night to facilitate reaching an open line. The toll-free registration number is 1-800-621-FEMA and 1-800-462-7585 for those with speech or hearing impairments. Online registration also is available now through www.fema.gov

Damage Inspections: After you have registered, and it has been determined an inspection is necessary, an inspector will generally contact the resident within 12 days.

Getting a Check: Assuming all required information is in order, a check can be issued within two or three days. An electronic fund transfer (money deposited directly into your bank account) will expedite the process.

Roof Covering: Residents should be able to get “self-help” tarps that they can put on their roofs themselves. These can be obtained from distribution sites in the area that are listed in the local media, or by calling the county emergency management office. For plastic roof sheeting, residents should call 1-888-766-3258 (ROOF-BLU). More than half the estimated damaged roofs now have been covered. It is estimated that the remaining jobs will be done within a few months, depending upon such variables as availability of construction crews, material and the weather.

Temporary Housing: Depending on availability, an apartment or house usually can be rented within days of the disaster. If houses or apartments are not available, perhaps because of damage to existing rentals, a travel trailer may be made available. It will be placed on the same lot as the damaged home if possible, or on a commercial site. The time frame for this, barring complications, is two or three weeks after registration with 1-800-621-FEMA. For those who need such housing immediately, call the Florida Housing Hotline at 1-888-472-1727 between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. Eastern time, seven days a week.

SBA Loan: After registering, many applicants, including homeowners, renters and businesses, will receive a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loan application in the mail. The application must be completed and returned to keep the door open for other types of assistance. For consistency, the applications that victims return are processed in the order they are received throughout the entire loan process. Victims who had damage from multiple storms only need to complete one SBA application. If their application was submitted prior to receiving additional damage, they should contact the SBA. If they have not yet submitted their application, damage from multiple storms can be addressed with one application. If a loan is not appropriate, the application can be referred to the Other Needs Assistance (ONA) grant program—but only after being declined by the SBA. They cannot apply directly to the ONA program. Therefore, those who do not complete the SBA loan application may be disqualifying themselves for other types of assistance. The applicant is not obligated to take an SBA loan if approved, but if the loan is offered and refused, there is no referral to grant programs.

Flood Insurance: Insurance adjusters and contractors working on flood claims are both in high demand and short supply because of recent hurricanes and the resultant flood insurance claims. Following one disaster, a claim settlement could be reached within a month after the claim was filed. With multiple storms, it will understandably take at least twice as long to finalize a claim.

For information on SERT, go to www.floridadisaster.org; FEMA, go to www.fema.gov

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, 17-Nov-2004 09:14:13