FEMA - http://www.fema.gov

Submitted by ub on

- Apply Online or at m.fema.gov
- Call (800) 621-3362 / TTY (800) 462-7585

Hurricane Irene effected residents of our hardest hit areas by flooding and some are still attempting to recoup losses sustained to their homes and businesses. Now, filling in a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) claim will become a little easier, according to Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz.

People who wish to make FEMA claims must register in advance by calling 1-800-621-3362 or online by visiting FEMA’s website here. Those with speech or hearing disabilities can call the TTY number at 1-800-462-7585.

According to a document released by FEMA called “Help After a Disaster,” the guidelines listed below must be met in order to qualify for assistance. Please click to the left of this article for a more detailed explanation of the program.

Program Eligibility for Housing Needs that are the result of a disaster, all of the following must be true:

* You have filed for insurance benefits and the damage to your property is not covered by your insurance. You may be eligible for help from IHP to repair damage to your property.
* You or someone with you is a citizen of the United States, a non‐ citizen national, or a qualified alien.
* Your home is in an area that has been declared a disaster area by the President.
* The home in the disaster area is where you usually live the majority of the year.
* You are not able to live in your home now, you cannot get to your home due to the disaster, or your home requires repairs because of damage from the disaster.

To receive money for other than Housing that are the result of a disaster, all of the following must be true:

* You have losses in an area that has been declared a disaster area by the President.
* You have filed for insurance benefits and the damage to your personal property is not covered by your insurance. You may be eligible for help from IHP to repair damage to your property.
* You or someone with you is a citizen of the United States, a non‐ citizen national, or a qualified alien.
* You have necessary expenses or serious needs because of the disaster.
* You have accepted assistance from all other sources for which you are eligible, such as insurance proceeds or SBA loans.

You may not be eligible for money or help from IHP if:

FEMA Disaster Helpline: 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) Hearing/Speech Impaired ONLY: Call 1-800-462-7585

* You have other, adequate rent‐free housing that you can use (for example, rental property that is not occupied).
* Your home that was damaged is your secondary or vacation residence.
* Your expenses resulted only from leaving your home as a precaution and you were able to return to your home immediately after the incident.
* You have refused assistance from your insurance provider(s).
* Your only losses are business losses (including farm business other than the farmhouse and self‐employment) or items not covered by this program.
* The damaged home where you live is located in a designated flood hazard area and your community is not participating in the National Flood Insurance Program. In this case, the flood damage to your home would not be covered, but you may qualify for rental assistance or items not covered by flood insurance, such as water wells, septic systems, medical, dental, or funeral expenses.

Types of Eligible Losses

IHP only covers repairs or replacement of items that are damaged as a direct result of the disaster that are not covered by insurance. Repairs or rebuilding may not improve your home above its pre‐disaster condition unless such improvements are required by current building codes.

Housing Needs: Money to repair your home is limited to making your home safe and sanitary so you can live there. IHP will not pay to return your home to its condition before the disaster. You may use your money provided for housing needs to repair.

* Structural parts of your home (foundation, outside walls, and roof).
* Windows, doors, floors, walls, ceilings, and cabinetry.
* Septic or sewage system.
* Well or other water system.
* Heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system.
* Utilities (electrical, plumbing, and gas systems).
* Entrance and exit ways from your home, including privately owned access roads.
* Blocking, leveling, and anchoring of a mobile home and reconnecting or resetting its sewer, water, electrical and fuel lines, and tanks.

Other than Housing Needs: Money to repair damaged personal property or to pay for disaster‐related necessary expenses and serious needs is limited to items or services that help prevent or overcome a disaster‐related hardship, injury or adverse condition. IHP will not pay to return or replace your personal property to its condition before the disaster. You may use your money provided for other than housing needs to repair or pay for:

* Disaster‐related medical and dental costs.
* Disaster‐related funeral and burial cost.
* Clothing; household items (room furnishings, appliances); tools (specialized or protective clothing and equipment) required for your job; necessary educational materials (computers, school books, and supplies).
* Fuels for primary heat source (heating oil, gas, firewood).
* Disaster‐specified clean‐up items (wet/dry vacuum, air purifier, and dehumidifier).
* A vehicle damaged by the disaster.
* Moving and storage expenses related to the disaster (moving and storing property to avoid additional disaster damage while disaster‐related repairs are being made to the home).
* Other necessary expenses or serious needs as determined by FEMA.