How Aid is Assessed After a Flood

7/7/2022 (Permalink)

When your home is flooded as the result of a natural disaster, FEMA can probably help.

How Aid is Assessed After a Flood

When a natural disaster causes widespread destruction, the Federal Emergency Management Agency often steps in to provide assistance and aid to those displaced by the aftermath of the storm. If your home in Yavapai County is damaged by flooding, FEMA may send a housing inspector to assess your property. What follows is a thorough walkthrough that can result in receiving federal assistance for putting your home back together.

Initial Assessment

When inspectors arrive at your home, they document everything that needs to be repaired or replaced. If there is a lot of damage, this could take a while. They make a detailed list of problems, such as:

• Soaked carpet
• Ruined walls
• Damaged cabinets
• Destroyed items, such as furniture

They take pictures of your home and write down the extent of the problem. For example, if is completely soaked through, they include how many square feet of carpet was affected. The more details they can report, the better FEMA is able to assess your need.

Documentation Requirements

One thing that the inspector will need from you is proof that you own the home. This can be problematic if your deed was destroyed by the storm and you don't have a copy on hand. Getting the paperwork from the appropriate office will have to happen before you are eligible to receive any of the aid that the inspector says you qualify for.

Inspector Advice

The government inspector is not the only person who needs to assess your property. Your insurance company will likely send an adjuster, and if there are repairs to be done, you should call a flood remediation company so that repairs can begin as soon as possible.

When your home is flooded as the result of a natural disaster, FEMA can probably help. All that is needed is a thorough inspection and proof that you own the home for the inspector to determine whether or not you qualify for aid.