NEW YORK CITY – November 8, 2012 – (RealEstateRama) — Residents awaiting inspectors sent by the Federal Emergency Management Agency can begin their cleanup process and remove trash prior to the arrival of FEMA inspectors. If you do not have insurance to cover your disaster-related damages, an inspection performed by a FEMA inspector is required to process your application.
Preparing for a FEMA home inspection includes removing as much trash from inside and out of a residence as is physically possible; it facilitates the process. Trash can be removed before your insurance company visits the property. Prior to disposing of damaged property, take an inventory of it and/or photographers. Your municipality can provide information on their scheduled trash removal.
Upon arrival the inspector will request proof of residency. The address on the documents or identification must match the residence that was damaged. The following are accepted forms for proof of residency:
Owners: Proof of ownership (your deed, tax records, mortgage payment book, or a copy of your dwelling’s insurance policy for the address, showing you as the owner)
Owners and renters: Proof of occupancy (your driver’s license address, any first-class government mail sent to you within the last three months at that address, or recent utility bills in your name at that address) and insurance policies.
Renters only: Lease agreement.
After registering applicants will receive a pamphlet in the mail, entitled, “Help After A Disaster, An Applicant’s Guide to the Individuals and Households Program.” This pamphlet should answer most questions and provide information about other programs that may be able to assist in recovery efforts. For complete information about the inspection process, go to fema.gov and search for “Inspection Process.”
