The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is working with applicants in several rural counties in Missouri to verify the property addresses of their primary residence.
These counties often use Rural Route or P.O. Box addresses. Residents affected by the recent federal disaster declaration may not be familiar with the need for an exact physical property address. These addresses are used for emergency response. There are several documents that will have this emergency response or physical property address.
- When you register for disaster assistance with FEMA it is important for FEMA to be able to verify the full physical location before scheduling an inspection of the damaged dwelling by a FEMA-contracted inspector. If FEMA cannot verify your address at the time you register, your home inspection may be delayed.
- Survivors should call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 to get information about how to resolve questions of home ownership or identification of the dwelling. They may also visit a disaster recovery center. A directory of recovery center locations and hours is available at recovery.mo.gov.
- In cases where rural areas do not have updated emergency response addresses, you can provide additional information about the address. It is critical that FEMA staff get the full physical location of the damaged dwelling in all rural areas. FEMA will use the information you provide.
- Ownership documents, listed below in order of preference, are acceptable (at the time of inspection) as proof of ownership for an applicant’s primary residence if they reflect:
- The name of the registrant or co-registrant; and
- The damaged dwelling address; and
- Ownership that pre-dates the disaster incident period. This may be referred to as the “legal description” of the property and have “plat” numbers or “latitude/longitude” rather than a typical address.
- Documents you may provide to verify home ownership are listed in order of preference:
- Deed or Official Record
- Mortgage Payment Book
- Real Property Insurance
- Tax Receipts or a Property Tax Bill
- Property Title or Mobile Home Certificate of Title
- Contract for Deed
- Real Estate Provision
- Land Installment Contract
- Quitclaim Deed
- Death Certificate and Will
- Maintenance Receipts
- Bill of Sale or Bond of Title
- Renters will need a copy of their rental agreement with the correct address and name on it. If that is not available, you will need a notarized letter from the landlord showing you were tenants during the incident period (April 28 through May 11, 2017) with the exact physical address and your name listed. The following types of documentation for renters are listed in order of preference, with the most conclusive verification listed first:
- Utility Bills: (e.g. electricity, gas, water or sewer)
- Landlord’s statement or copy of a written lease/housing agreement for the damaged dwelling: a verifiable landlord’s statement or a copy of the lease or housing agreement for the pre-disaster dwelling.
- Rent Receipts: (a copy is acceptable).
- Verification with Landlord
- Merchant’s Statement
- Employer’s Statement
- Driver’s License, state issued ID Card or Voter Registration Card: These types of cards (must be current - not expired – at the time of the disaster).
- For further information, go online to DisasterAssistance.gov and use your unique nine-digit FEMA case number, or call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362. Those who use TTY may call 800-462-7585; MO Relay 800-735-2966; CapTel 877-242-2823; Speech to Speech 877-735-7877; VCO 800-735-0135. Operators will be available from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.
The federal disaster declaration covers eligible losses caused by flooding and severe storms between April 28 and May 11, 2017 in these counties: Bollinger, Butler, Carter, Douglas, Dunklin, Franklin, Gasconade, Howell, Jasper, Jefferson, Madison, Maries, McDonald, Newton, Oregon, Osage, Ozark, Pemiscot, Phelps, Pulaski, Reynolds, Ripley, Shannon, St. Louis, Stone, Taney, and Texas.
June 16, 2017
DR-4317-MO
FS-02-a