FEMA questions

[Trillium]

OK, I have a question for those of you who have been involved in distasters lately...  We currently have 5 people staying with us who lost everything to Ike.  They were told that we could receive assistance since we are housing them.  I've been searching around the internet and couldn't find any info on this.  I tried contacting several local agencies and they referred me to FEMA.  When I try to call FEMA it tells me to hang up and try again later.   

Do any of you have confirmed information on this??

[knarlyknot]

Hi Trill,
  I'll try to help.  During Rita we had to evacuate and received $2000 from FEMA, but I'm not sure if it was because we had to evacuate or if it was reimbursement of lost wages due to no electricity.  Either way, FEMA is impossible to reach over the phone as I'm sure you know.  Try registering online at FEMA.gov  and let them call you.  My Uncle, who lived in Shore Acres, also has been living with family since the storm and his insurance company has said that they will pay rent, basically, to the other family member.  If they had been staying in a hotel they would have reimbursed that.  So if your family had home insurance you might look into that.  Best of luck, the red tape is enough to make you go insane!

[Trillium]

Unfortunately, our friends were living in an apartment, so there is no insurance.  I'm gonna keep trying to contact FEMA...

[analise]

Unfortunately, our friends were living in an apartment, so there is no insurance.  I'm gonna keep trying to contact FEMA...

This is why renter's insurance is a big thing to make sure you get.

[Trillium]

They are one of those family who can barely make rent...

I was actually talking about rental insurance with someone yesterday, wondering if it would even cover flood damage.  When you own a home, you have to get a separate flood insurance policy and windstorm policy to cover what your normal homeowners doesn't cover...

[Dayna]

Renters insurance covers your personal belongings, the owners of the building would be the ones that need flood insurance to cover the building, so I'm not sure if you would be covered or even if a renter could Obtain flood insurance.  That's an excellent question, one I think I will ask my insurance agent.  I don't have flood insurance, don't live on a flood plain, own my own home and my insurance will not cover stuff I store in the basement.

Dayna

[*Teach*]

I'm with Knarlyknot, during Rita i know of several who were able to get rent paid to people who were putting up friends and relatives.
Myself, I have an intense hatred of FEMA after they refused me any assistance at all because I filled out one form wrong.
FEMA: Fix Everything My Arse
Keep calling and trying until you get to talk to the right person, you'll get an answer eventually

*rum is not covered by insurance... FYI*