Every time a natural disaster strikes, it can sometimes be hard to get back to the normal way of life. In most cases, this means that the people have to take one day at a time in the effort to make life worth living again. In the case of the people who have lost everything, this will mean that they have to look for an alternative source of accommodation for a little bit longer. FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and other organizations are there to help in the case of such a situation. This report is to enable people to file a claim with FEMA in order to get help putting their lives back together.
FEMA DISASTER ASSISTANCE
Hurricanes, winter storms and tornadoes can cause extensive damage. Most of the people who live in a federally designated disaster area can automatically qualify for the FEMA disaster assistance funds. This cash is used to help people who had their property destroyed and where losses are not necessarily covered by insurance. The funds are not meant to reinstate the damaged property to its original condition but to help people with the severe costs that are not otherwise covered. This is why flood and homeowners insurance are highly recommended.
HOW TO APPLY FOR FEMA ASSISTANCE
FEMA assistance can either be applied for online or over the phone. It is recommended that if you apply over the phone, you should exercise some patience since sometimes the system can be overloaded with other people who are also trying to make claims all at the same time. When you want to make your claim from FEMA, ensure that you the following information handy so that it can make the process smoother.
- Your Social Security number.
- A telephone number where you can be contacted
- Current and pre-disaster address.
- Total household annual income
- A description of your losses that were caused by the disaster.
- Insurance information.
- A routing and account number from your bank (if you want to have disaster assistance funds transferred directly into your bank account)
After this, you will receive a FEMA claim number. You should ensure that you keep it safe since you will need it for future reference. You can also make a claim at the FEMA Individual Assistance Center. In the case, that you are a business owner, you may be eligible for assistance from the Small Business Administration. After applying for assistance, you should wait at least 24 hours then check the system to verify your claim status. FEMA will send an inspector to access your damage. It will take at least ten days before your application is either approved or denied.
