FEMA Damage Inspectors on the Job in Central Florida
Release Date: February 8, 2007
Release Number: 1679-005
» More Information on Florida Severe Storms and Tornadoes
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Inspectors from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are contacting hundreds of disaster applicants whose homes sustained damage from tornadoes that struck central Florida last week. Currently, fifty inspectors have completed more than 545 requests from homeowners to date, with another 100 scheduled.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and insurance companies also have inspectors in the field.
"We are working quickly to meet the needs of those affected by the disaster," said Jesse Munoz, federal coordinating officer for the tornado recovery effort. "The FEMA inspector is there to document damage, not to determine whether an applicant is eligible for assistance."
Munoz said if homeowners evacuated to another area and cannot return for the mandatory damage inspection, homeowners can authorize an agent to be present.
"It is critical FEMA has current contact information and accurate directions so inspectors can reach each eligible applicant" Munoz said.
Understanding the Inspection Process
Before an inspector is assigned, homeowners or renters with uninsured disaster-related damage must register with FEMA. They can register by phone at 1 -800-621-3362 (FEMA) or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585 for the speech- or hearing-impaired and online at www.fema.gov. Multilingual assistance is available.
- Damage inspection is free.
- A FEMA inspector will contact an applicant by phone to schedule an appointment.
- An applicant should give clear, accurate directions to the damaged property, the street address and a current phone number.
- A street address is required; post office boxes do not show locations.
- An inspector will try three times to schedule a damage inspection appointment. After that, unnecessary delays may occur.
- Owners and renters must show proof of occupancy such as a valid driver's license.
- Owners must also show proof of ownership and some forms will need to be signed.
- Each inspection generally takes 30 to 40 minutes.
Be Alert for Disaster Fraud
FEMA inspectors carry official photo identification. Residents should ask for photo identification from damage inspectors. Please contact the local police or call the Attorney General's office at 1 - 866-966-7226 if money is requested for an inspection or you believe someone is misrepresenting themself as an inspector.
- FEMA ID includes the person's photo and name. The FEMA seal and the ID's expiration date are highly visible.
- FEMA ID include a "property of the U.S. Government" disclaimer, a return address and a barcode.
- Official inspectors will never ask for money or use a vehicle bearing a FEMA logo.
FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident, initiates mitigation activities and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA works closely with state and local emergency managers, law enforcement personnel, firefighters and other first responders. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, economic status or retaliation. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, you should call FEMA toll-free at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or contact your State Office of Equal rights. If suspicious of any abuse of FEMA programs, please contact the fraud hotline at 1-800-323-8603.
FEMA's temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA loan officers to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.
Last Modified: Friday, 09-Feb-2007 07:49:38