Insurance Doesn't Stop Disaster Aid 

Release Date: October 7, 2008
Release Number: 1794-008

» More Information on Mississippi Hurricane Gustav

LONG BEACH, Miss. -- Residents of Adams, Hancock, Harrison, Washington and Wilkinson counties shouldn’t despair if they receive a letter from the Federal Emergency Management Agency stating that disaster assistance is not available to them.

It may be that FEMA cannot complete the disaster assistance evaluation process until insurance claims are settled and submitted to FEMA for review. Insured applicants may still be eligible for disaster funds.

Federal disaster aid is designed to help with uninsured or under-insured losses caused by a disaster.

Any Mississippian who receives a letter from FEMA stating that a claim for federal assistance has been deemed ineligible because of insurance should contact their insurance company and request a settlement letter. That information and any new or additional information gained since the initial disaster assistance application was filed, should be mailed or faxed to the address provided in the letter from FEMA.

If FEMA determines you are not eligible for a grant, you still may be eligible for a low-interest disaster loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

SBA low-interest loans are available to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations. SBA advises applicants that it is not necessary to wait on an insurance settlement before applying to SBA. SBA encourages those that have received an application to complete and return the application as soon as possible.

Individuals and business owners who sustained damage or losses from Hurricane Gustav and have not applied to FEMA for disaster assistance should do so now. To apply, simply call toll-free,  1-800-621-FEMA (3362), or register online at www.fema.gov. Hearing- or speech-impaired individuals should call TTY 1-800-462-7585.

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, 09-Oct-2008 13:05:38