DES MOINES, Iowa – If your house has been inaccessible for a FEMA damage inspection following the March 12 severe storms and flooding, but the roads to your residence now are officially open, please call FEMA to request a reinspection and to update your case.
Many homes throughout the seven western Iowa counties eligible for federal disaster assistance have been either surrounded by water or otherwise cut off since the flooding began, and FEMA housing inspectors have not been able to get to these properties to document damage. The seven counties are: Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Monona, Pottawattamie, Shelby, and Woodbury.
Recently, access issues have been improving, so state and federal disaster officials are urging Iowans who have not yet received a full inspection to call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 to schedule an appointment. Use the same number for voice/711/ video relay service. TTY users may dial 800-462-7585. Lines are open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time. Multilingual operators are available.
A contracted FEMA inspector will call ahead of time and make an appointment. Be sure to keep that appointment. Applicants or co-applicants must be present for the inspection unless they complete a request for a third-party inspection. Also, the inspection cannot take place unless public roadways have been reopened by local or state officials. Inspectors cannot drive around barricades or ‘Road Closed’ signs.
If you cannot make the appointment, call the FEMA Helpline to arrange a new time.
The inspector will come out and look at the damage, review your records and make notes of the impacts. This process generally takes 30 to 40 minutes.
The inspector will ask to see:
- Photo identification.
- Proof of ownership/occupancy of damaged residence such as homeowner’s insurance, a tax bill, lease, mortgage-payment book or utility bill.
- Insurance documents: home and/or auto (structural insurance/auto declaration sheet).
- List of household occupants living in residence at time of disaster.
- Disaster-related damage to both real and personal property.
The inspector will not be able to provide a determination at that time of how much assistance you may receive. His or her job is to document the damage for consideration of possible state and federal disaster assistance.
FEMA inspectors will not condemn a property. Condemnation determinations are made by your local jurisdiction.
All FEMA inspectors will have photo ID FEMA badges. It is OK to ask to see that ID if it is not readily visible. If the inspector cannot produce a FEMA ID, don’t provide personal information or let him/her into your house. Report the person to local law enforcement immediately.
FEMA housing inspections are free. There is no cost for the inspection, the inspector’s time or the results.
In addition to FEMA-contracted housing inspectors, representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), as well as state and local officials, may visit neighborhoods in affected areas.
Approximately seven to 10 days after your inspection, FEMA will send a determination letter that details whether you are eligible for disaster assistance, the dollar amount of the grant and how the money must be used. If you disagree with FEMA’s decision, the letter explains how you can appeal the determination.
Read your determination letter carefully. If you are turned down for assistance, it may be that additional information or documentation from you—such as an insurance settlement showing you may not have been covered for all your essential needs—is needed before a reconsideration of the decision can be made.
If you have any questions, you can always contact the FEMA Helpline.
Find more details about the FEMA inspection process by visiting www.fema.gov/what-happens-inspection.
Stay Informed:
It’s important to stay informed about disaster recovery resources and options. Here are some ways to do that:
- Visit a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) near you. DRCs are a one-stop shop where survivors can meet face-to-face with recovery specialists from FEMA, SBA and other agencies. To locate a DRC, go online to www.fema.gov/DRC.
- Call FEMA’s Helpline
- Go online to www.disasterassistance.gov to explore many kinds of recovery and preparedness information.
- Download the FEMA app on your smartphone www.fema.gov/mobile
- Go online to www.floods2019.iowa.gov/ for a comprehensive listing of state and federal recovery resources.
Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has faced discrimination, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-3362, voice/VP/711. Multilingual operators are available. TTY users may call 800-462-7585.