After area residents affected by last month’s tornadoes apply for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, a home inspection may be necessary to help determine whether the home is safe, sanitary and livable.
According to FEMA, inspectors will call or text applicants to arrange to meet at the home. They will leave messages and/or texts on the phone number listed on the FEMA application. Communications may come from an unfamiliar phone number, and it is important that applicants respond so their application can be processed.
Nearly 1,000 of these inspections have occurred to date, and more are being conducted daily. The inspectors do not make any decisions regarding eligibility for assistance. Information gathered during the inspection is only one of several criteria used by FEMA to determine if applicants are eligible for federal assistance.
The housing inspector will consider three factors:
-The structural soundness of the home, both inside and outside.
-Whether the electrical, gas, heat, plumbing and sewer/septic systems are all in working order.
-Whether the home is safe to live in and can be entered and exited safely.
All FEMA representatives have official identification. Housing inspectors will make an appointment with the applicant before coming. They will already have the applicant’s FEMA application number. They carry photo identification and will show it to the applicant. For security reasons, federal identification may not be photographed. Inspectors will never ask for, or accept, money. Their service is free.
A typical home inspection takes about 45 minutes to complete. After the inspection, applicants should allow seven to 10 days for processing. For questions about the status of their application, call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 or visit a Disaster Recovery Center.
Baxter, Marion, Fulton and Boone counties among eight in Arkansas whose residents may be eligible for FEMA assistance following the storms May 24-27.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI