Before
During
After
Additional Help
After you apply for disaster assistance, FEMA must verify your disaster-caused damage through an onsite or remote inspection as part of the process, as well as helping to determine federal assistance options available for applicants.
Inspections MUST be done within 10 days after applying for Individual Assistance.
Before the Inspection
An inspection can only be done when the homeowner or renter, or the co-applicant, is present. If you are unable to meet with the inspector, you can designate someone else to meet with the inspector on your behalf. You must provide FEMA with a copy of this written designation.
If the home cannot be accessed, the inspector may meet with the applicant at the obstruction or a neutral location to verify occupancy and/or ownership.
Do not wait for the inspection to take place to do the following:
- File a claim with your insurance company, if you have insurance.
- Start cleaning up now, if it is safe to do so.
- Take photos of any damage.
- Make a list of your losses.
- Keep all receipts to verify expenses caused by the disaster.
Scheduling Your Inspection
When the FEMA inspector calls, write down:
- The inspector’s name
- Date of call
- Date and time of appointment
- Inspector’s telephone number
Call the FEMA Helpline (1-800-621-3362) to verify the inspector if you have questions about who they are or the documentation they are asking for.
Remember: FEMA staff and inspectors may call from an unknown or restricted phone number and make several attempts over the course of a few days. They will usually attempt to make contact with you three times.
If FEMA is unable to contact you to verify your damage, you will be sent a letter of notice and your application cannot move forward.
- You then must call FEMA’s Helpline to confirm your contact information and verify your need for assistance.
- Do not re-submit or create a new application at any point during the disaster assistance process.
You can check the status of your application or read any FEMA letters by accessing your DisasterAssistance.gov account.
What to Have with You for Your Inspection
You should have the following information ready at the time of the inspection:
- Your photo identification
- Proof of ownership or occupancy, if requested by the inspector
- List of household occupants living in the home at the time of disaster
- All disaster-caused damage to property
- Your insurance policy and any additional documents requested by the inspector
During Your Inspection
Depending on the amount of damage, the inspection may take up to 45 minutes to complete.
FEMA inspectors are trained to recognize damage caused by a disaster, but they do not decide if you will receive assistance.
They observe and record damage that may be eligible within the Individuals and Households Program, which is different from assessments made by insurance adjusters or other disaster assistance programs, such as the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The inspector will:
- Attempt to verify the applicant’s name, address, contact information, occupancy and ownership status, and insurance coverage.
- Walk through the entire home to assess the condition of both damaged and non-damaged areas, noting disaster caused damage to real property (structural) and doing a complete inventory of all damaged and non-damaged essential personal property (appliances, furniture, etc.).
- Ask questions about disaster-caused losses and expenses including medical expenses, moving and storage expenses, items purchased in response to the disaster, uniforms, supplies, and tools required for school or employment.
- Take photos of the interior and exterior of the home during the inspection process.
What the Inspector Won't Ask
The inspector will never ask for money or your bank information. FEMA never charges a fee for an inspection.
The inspector will never ask for your FEMA identification number. They already have this in their records.
About Your Inspector
All FEMA inspectors carry an official photo ID. Someone who only has a shirt or jacket that says FEMA does not have an official ID.
If the inspector who comes to your house doesn't have an official ID, or refuses to show it to you, tell them to leave immediately and call local law enforcement. Call the FEMA Helpline (1-800-621-3362) if you have any questions about the identity of your inspector.
Making Accommodations for Your Inspection
Reasonable accommodations, including translation and ASL interpreters, will be available to ensure effective communication with survivors with limited English proficiency, survivors with disabilities, and other individuals with access and functional needs.
You may invite someone such as a household member, relative or friend to assist in communicating with the inspector.
After Your Inspection
The inspector is looking for things that answer the following questions:
- Is the exterior of the home structurally sound, including the doors, roof and windows?
- Does the electricity, gas, heat, plumbing, sewer and septic system function properly?
- Is the inside of the house habitable and structurally sound, including the ceiling and floors?
- Is the home capable of being used for its intended purpose?
- Is there a safe access to and from the home?
Information collected during the inspection is only one of several criteria used by FEMA to determine a survivor’s eligibility for assistance. You will receive information explaining FEMA's eligibility decision within 10 days after the inspector's visit.
You can check the status of your application or read any FEMA letters by accessing your DisasterAssistance.gov account.
Determining Eligibility
If you are determined approved for assistance, you may receive a U.S. Treasury check or direct deposit based on what you selected during your application. You must use the money for its intended purpose as explained in the letter and keep records and receipts for at least three years, showing how the funds were used for disaster recovery. There are several categories of assistance, and it is possible to qualify for more than one.
If you received a letter from FEMA that says you’re not yet approved for assistance, that’s not the final decision. A quick fix, like providing more information, may change FEMA’s decision.
Be sure to read your FEMA determination letter carefully. The letter specifies why you are not yet approved and recommends actions that may change the decision.
Learn more about Common Reasons FEMA May Find You Ineligible for Assistance, and How to Address Them.
Appealing FEMA’s Eligibility Decisions
An appeal is your chance to tell FEMA why you don’t agree with the decision we made, bring information we were not aware of when we made the decision to our attention, or send information to FEMA for more assistance.
You have the right to appeal FEMA’s eligibility decisions, including the amount of your award, within 60 days and/or request an opportunity to complete the application.
Additional Help
FEMA inspectors are unable to answer questions or access your information once they complete your inspection. If you have questions after your inspection, you can speak directly with FEMA specialists at a nearby Disaster Recovery Center (DRC), or call FEMA’s Helpline at 1-800-621-3362.