A Q&A with Chris Smith, Director of Individual Assistance

We’re here on the ground in Baton Rouge supporting those who have been impacted by the historic flooding here in Louisiana. We have been here since before the flooding began and we are doing as much as we can to help them get back on their feet and on the road to recovery. Chris Smith, who runs our Individual Assistance program, is also here making sure we are doing everything we can for the survivors.

We have been getting a lot of questions about how to register with FEMA, how Individual Assistance works, and so we want to make sure we get enough information out there.

Starting with the basic questions:

How does somebody register with FEMA and who should register?

Chris: Survivors can call our phone number 1-800-621-3362 (including if you use 711 or Video Relay Service) or 800-462-7585 if you use TTY, register online at DisasterAssistance.gov, or visit Disaster Recovery Centers in person. There are also FEMA employees moving around from parish to parish and looking at shelters and other neighborhoods. As they are walking around, they’re able to register you in person.

Anyone that has been impacted by the flood should register. Whether or not you think you have damage, go ahead and register and let us help you work through the process.

Should you register even if you have flood insurance?

Chris: Absolutely.

How much time usually passes between the time someone calls and registers with FEMA to when their housing inspection happens?

Chris: That can take anywhere between (on larger disasters) five to eight days. Go ahead and contact us to check on the status of your registration and application. Once you’ve done the initial application, they’ll give you a registration number that you can use to check your status online. I would recommend checking that status and ensuring you know where you are in the process and know when to expect the inspector to come. We’ll always call ahead or contact you to set up an appointment.

What is the difference between flood insurance and FEMA assistance?

Chris: An insurance policy is intended to make the policyholder whole—to protect you from a hazard. FEMA assistance isn’t designed to make an individual whole—it’s more along the lines of helping an individual get essential things to start the recovery process. It’s like a booster shot, but it’s not built for us to make you whole again after a disaster.

FEMA assistance is designed as a life vest not a life boat and people may not get enough to replace everything they’ve lost, unfortunately. But it doesn’t mean it’s the end of the line for federal assistance. What else is available for survivors as part of the FEMA registration process?

Chris: Once you’ve started the FEMA registration process, you will potentially be referred to the Small Business Administration, which is sometimes confusing to survivors because they are a home owner, not necessarily a business owner. The Small Business Administration does have a program for individuals that can provide low-interest loans to survivors after disasters. If you don’t qualify for that loan, then there is an opportunity to come back to the FEMA side, where we will then do an inspection and work with you on what’s covered by insurance, what’s not covered or how we can assist you if there’s no insurance.

Can FEMA provide rental assistance?

Chris: Absolutely. Once you register with FEMA and an inspector completes their inspection and deems that you can’t live in your place, then we will provide rental assistance to you for upwards of 60 days initially. Then, if that’s still unavailable and you still can’t get back into your home, then we can continue your rental assistance with some paperwork and as long as you are eligible we will continue to keep you in the alternate home. We can also provide you with resources for repair while staying in the temporary rental so you can return home.

Does a survivor need to visit a Disaster Recovery Center in order to get FEMA assistance?

Chris: No, there is no requirement to go to a Disaster Recovery Center in order to get assistance. But, if you have questions, if you need a fax machine, we have all that capability there at a Disaster Recovery Center. If you need to get documents to FEMA, you can bring them to a Disaster Recovery Center and we can scan them into the system. It’s a resource center for you to come in and get information. Everyone is welcome to come and ask questions.

 

So, one of the most important things to take away from this is to continue communicating with FEMA, continue reaching out to us if you have questions. We are here to help you.

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