FEMA: Disaster Assistance Application Follow-up and Appeal
Wednesday, July 14, 2010 | 01:20pm
NASHVILLE – Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recovery staff is working to make sure Tennesseans affected by the spring floods receive every dollar of assistance for which they are eligible. If a disaster survivor is not satisfied with the outcome of his or her individual case, an appeal can be filed.
An appeal is a written request to have a disaster assistance application reviewed again. Appeals may relate to your eligibility for disaster assistance, the amount and type of help provided, and answer questions about continuing assistance.
A range of issues may affect FEMA’s decision on a disaster survivor’s current eligibility for disaster grants or low-interest loans. For example, you still might need to:
- Provide information to prove occupancy or ownership of the damaged property;
- Provide proof of identity;
- Provide documentation to prove disaster damage; or
- Complete and return a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loan application. While no one is obligated to take out a loan, completing and returning an SBA application is an essential part of the recovery process.
Or you may have:
- Missed an appointment with an inspector and need to reschedule;
- Insufficient storm damage;
- Adequate insurance coverage; or
- A pending settlement with an insurance company.
Federal disaster assistance is designed to help with uninsured or under-insured damages caused by the floods between April 30 – May 18, 2010, but is not designed to make disaster victims whole. By law, the maximum amount of grant assistance available to eligible individuals is $29,900.
If you have questions about the appeal process, you can call FEMA’s Helpline at 800-621-3362 (FEMA) or (TTY) 800-462-7585 for those with speech and hearing disabilities. The helpline operates seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and assistance is available in all languages.
FEMA urges disaster survivors to appeal within 60 days from the date of their notification letter if they are unsatisfied with FEMA’s determination of assistance. Guidelines on how to do this can be found in the Applicant’s Handbook provided to everyone who registers for assistance, and also online at http://www.fema.gov/assistance/process/case_review.shtm. Applicants can also call the helpline above for this information.
Follow the recovery in Tennessee online at http://twitter.com/tema, http://twitter.com/fema, http://www.facebook.com/TNDisasterInfo, www.youtube.com/fema and http://www.flickr.com/photos/t_e_m_a.
The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA and TEMA do not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.
FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
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 been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call 800-462-7585.
FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA loan officers to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.
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