First Federal Emergency Management Agency Letter May Not Be The Last Word

NEW YORK, NY – A denial letter from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) sent to some Queens and Brooklyn homeowners, renters and business owners who suffered losses from the August 8 storms and flooding may not mean they are ineligible for assistance.

“A denial may mean that FEMA does not have all the information needed to make a decision regarding the applicant’s disaster aid,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Marianne C. Jackson of FEMA. “Remember that this first letter may not be the last word.”

There are several easily fixed reasons why an applicant may receive a denial letter. The most common reason is that the applicants are insured. This is marked as INS or IINS on the denial letter. In that situation, FEMA requires more information on the insurance settlement before a final decision can be made.

Other common reasons for denial letters:

• The applicant did not provide or sign the required documents.
• The applicant did not prove occupancy or ownership.
• The damage is to a secondary home or a rental property, not a primary residence. (By law, applicants are eligible for FEMA disaster assistance only if the damage is to their primary residence-where the person usually lives and was living at the time of the disaster.)
• Someone else in the household has already applied and received help.
• The applicant registered before the disaster was officially declared for their county. (If this applies to you, be sure to call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) to verify your status.)

“The key to being considered for State and Federal assistance is for applicants to complete all the necessary paperwork and keep information up-to-date,” said State Coordinating Officer John R. Gibb, Director of the New York State Emergency Management Office (SEMO). “The State and FEMA rely on that information to process each claim.”

If FEMA determines that applicants are not eligible for a grant, they may still be eligible for other assistance such as a low-interest disaster loan from the SBA, disaster unemployment assistance, and tax assistance.

Insured applicants should reconnect with FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) after their insurance claim is settled. If settlement is not imminent, they can ask their insurance agent to provide a “delay of settlement” letter. That information, along with any new or important information that may have surfaced since they first registered, should be mailed to the address provided in the FEMA letter.

Applicants can appeal any FEMA decision within 60 days of the date on the denial letter. Information on the appeal process is in the Applicant’s Guide to the Individuals and Households Program Manual, which is mailed to applicants when they register for disaster aid.

FEMA and SEMO urge people affected by the August 8 storms and flooding who have not yet registered for assistance to call before the extended deadline of November 16, 2007.

Register by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). For the speech- or hearing-impaired, the number is 1-800-462-7585. You can also register online at www.fema.gov.

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FEMA coordinates the federal government’s role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, economic status or retaliation. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, you should call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362) or contact your State Office of Equal Rights. If suspicious of any abuse of FEMA programs, please contact the fraud hotline at 1-800-323-8603

FEMA-1724-DR-NY (PR035)
FEMA–Rebecca Morales – 703-399-0584            
SEMO – Don Maurer – 518-292-2312
SBA – Michael Lampton – 404-347-3771