Disaster Assistance Option for Insured Property Owners Following Hurricanes

People who have applied for assistance for hurricanes Charley or Frances may still be able to get help even if they got a letter from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) telling them they are not eligible at this time because they are “INS-Insured.”

People who get such a letter should consider calling FEMA again at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) after their insurance claim is settled.

“That code means that the victim has insurance,” explained Bill Carwile, the official in charge of the federal disaster response. “By law, we cannot duplicate what insurance already covers or deductibles. But in some cases, we may be able to help, up to our program limits. So please contact us after you get your settlement.”

Carwile gave examples of what FEMA may cover for insured victims:

* Expenses for renting a hotel room while a home is inaccessible or uninhabitable, if insurance does not cover that cost.
* Items that are uninsurable, such as wells, septic tanks or access to one’s home.
* In some cases where insurance settlements are delayed more than 30 days, cash may be advanced, which victims must pay back later from their settlements.
* Applicants will be asked to submit proof of the settlement.

“See what your insurance settlement is, then contact FEMA again,” said Craig Fugate, state coordinating officer. “But call to register with FEMA now. If you wait for the insurance settlement, it may be too late to register. So call FEMA now at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Then call the same number again after the insurance settlement, with your case number, and update your information.”

The State Emergency Response Team (SERT) is a collaboration of Florida’s emergency management agencies led by the state coordinating officer. SERT’s mission is to ensure that Florida is prepared to respond to emergencies, recover from them, and mitigate their impact.

Visit http://www.floridadisaster.org for the latest information on the hurricane relief effort.