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News
Check
for Official Badges
Posted 17 June 2008
Many inspectors are now in the field verifying damages to homes and
businesses caused by the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that
began May 25 and continues.
Disaster recovery officials advise applicants to ask for identification
from individuals saying they are damage inspectors. All inspectors wear
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) photo identification badges
in plain sight. In some parts of the state, contracted Alltech home
inspectors wear FEMA photo badges. If an inspector is not wearing a
photo identification badge, ask to see it. Individuals who have applied
for disaster assistance can expect to hear from several different
inspectors within the coming weeks.
FEMA inspectors generally will schedule an inspection within a week to
10 days to review damaged property and obtain more information about
losses.
The American Red Cross field workers also wear badges and local
building and safety inspectors may come to see if damaged structures
are safe.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will send loss verifiers
who wear photo ID when they inspect the damaged property of those who
have submitted disaster loan applications.
If an inspector asking for access to your home cannot show you a photo
ID, call your local law enforcement agency immediately. Take the time
to write down the inspector's name, agency and the date of their visit.
The major federal disaster declaration makes available a wide range of
assistance programs to individuals in counties included in a federal
disaster. Financial assistance for those temporarily displaced by the
severe storms, tornadoes and flooding could include low-interest loans
to repair and replace real or personal property, and grants to help
meet serious, necessary disaster-related needs not covered by insurance
or other assistance programs.
Individuals and business owners who incurred losses in the recent
storms are urged to call FEMA's toll-free registration line at
1-800-621-FEMA (3362), available 24 hours a day seven days a week. The
registration number for speech- and hearing-impaired individuals is
(TTY) 1-800-462-7585. Registration and contact information updates can
be made online anytime at http://www.fema.gov.
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.
SBA is the federal government's primary source of money for the
long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps
homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit
organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts, and cover the cost of
replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster
loans cover uninsured and uncompensated losses and do not duplicate
benefits of other agencies or organizations. For information about SBA
programs, applicants may call 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339).
Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race,
color, sex, religion, nationality, age, disability, English
proficiency, economic status, or retaliation. If you or someone you
known has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at
800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY Call 800-462-7585.
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