Hurricane Katrina: Legal Issues - Columbus School of Law

directions to your damaged property; and
a phone number where you can be reached.
You can also register at FEMA’s website: http://www.fema.gov by clicking on the “register for assistance” link. You
may also check on the status of your application online. You can also register at one of FEMA's local assistance
centers or disaster recovery centers. For information on locations of these centers, please see below.
What are Disaster Recovery Centers?
Following most major disasters, FEMA establishes Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in or near the disaster areas.
DRCs serve as one-stop information centers. Staffed by representatives from various federal, state, local and
voluntary agencies, these centers are tailored to respond to the needs of the particular disaster.
How will FEMA process my request for help?
At the time of registration, the FEMA representative will give you a control (application) number. This number is
very important for referencing your case, so please keep it handy. In the event you did not register online, it is also a
good idea to keep the name of the person who registered you, in case any problem with your paperwork arises.
FEMA may then refer you to the Small Business Administration (SBA), which offers special loans to disaster
victims. (It does not matter whether you own a small business or not.) If you are referred to the SBA, YOU MUST
COMPLETE AND SEND IN YOUR SBA LOAN APPLICATION, EVEN IF YOU DO NOT THINK YOU WILL
QUALIFY FOR A LOAN. The SBA serves as a gatekeeper to other government-run programs. Unless you send in
your application and fail to qualify for an SBA loan (or a large enough loan to meet your needs), your application
will not be passed on to the Other Needs Assistance (ONA) Programs, and you may not be eligible for additional
assistance from other federal disaster programs.
If you have requested help from FEMA because of damage to your home, FEMA will send an inspector to look at
the damage. These inspectors are not FEMA employees but are contractors. Nevertheless, the FEMA inspection is
FREE. Do not let anyone charge you for an "inspection service." Request identification from the inspector, and
request a copy of his or her inspection report. FEMA inspectors file a report but do not determine your eligibility.
You do not need to wait until the inspection to begin cleaning and repairing the property, but you should document
the damage by taking pictures. (Video is a good record, too!) If possible, save damaged items.
You should be prepared to meet with the inspector on short notice. If you are not available for the inspection, your
application may be withdrawn. Be prepared to supply the inspector with several pieces of information:
valid identification;
proof of home ownership or tenancy;
proof of damages to your primary residence;
receipts for expenses you have incurred; and
photos of your property before you began repairs.
You will also need to sign the disaster application and a declaration that you are a citizen, a national, a resident alien,
or otherwise lawfully present in the U.S. See the Immigration section of this Handbook for further discussion of
immigration issues. The FEMA inspector will complete a report and transmit it to FEMA's National Processing
Servicing Center (NPSC). The NPSC will review the information and decide whether you qualify for assistance. (In
the interim, the NPSC may ask you for additional records, such as insurance papers, a copy of title, pay stubs, or
repair estimates.) FEMA will mail you a notice of its decision.
What type of ownership documentation can the applicant provide to support his or her application for help?
Below are a few types of documents that may be provided to prove ownership: