Frequently Asked Questions About Disasters

To apply for child care assistance, you will need to provide:

• Proof that the child is a dependent and occupant of your home.
• Proof of pre- and post-disaster annual gross household income.
• Pre-disaster receipts or an affidavit for child care expenses.
• Post-disaster receipts or estimates for child care fees, registration and/or health inventory fees.
• Child care providers license information.

After a flood incident, you should report your loss immediately to your insurance agent or carrier. Be sure to ask them about advance payments. Need help finding your insurance agent or carrier? Call the NFIP at 877-336-2627.

Yes! Before removing flood-damaged items from your home, take these steps:

• Take photos and videos.
• Record serial numbers.
• Keep receipts.
• Contact repair services.

Yes. After taking photos and documenting damage, you should immediately throw away flooded items that pose a health risk, such as perishable food items, clothing, cushions, and pillows.

Through the Individuals and Households Program (IHP), FEMA may provide funds to address damage from mold.   If you are a homeowner, you may receive Home Repair funds for clean up, removal, or remediation of disaster-caused mold. To be eligible for this assistance, FEMA must verify that you are unable to live in your home because of the disaster-caused mold damage. 

If your home received minor damage from the disaster and FEMA determines you can still live safely in your home, renters and homeowners may be eligible for Clean and Sanitize Assistance.  This assistance is only available in certain disasters and is intended to provide you with limited funds to prevent additional loss and potential health and safety concerns, such as mold growth.  

National Flood Insurance Program flood insurance policies will not cover damage from mold.

There may be considerations made if:

• An authorized official has banned entrance to the area (for safety reasons).
• Floodwaters remain around the home or in the area that prevent you from inspecting or maintaining the property.

However, if you can access your property, you are strongly encouraged to begin cleanup and documentation immediately after a flood to prevent the growth and spread of mold.

If you are unsatisfied with the amount of your claim or receive a denial letter for some or all of your claim, you can:

• Work with your insurance company to find a resolution.
• File an appeal with FEMA.
• Seek an appraisal.
• File a lawsuit.

In an emergency where regular water service has been interrupted – like a hurricane, flood, or water pipe breakage – local authorities may recommend using only bottled water, boiled water, or disinfected water until regular water service is restored.

To learn how to disinfect water, visit the United States Environmental Protection Agency.  Remember, only use water that has been properly disinfected for drinking, cooking, making any prepared drink, washing dishes and for brushing teeth.

If available, use bottled water. This is the safest and most reliable option.

If bottled water is unavailable,

• Boil water vigorously for at least one minute. This kills harmful bacteria and viruses. Let is cool before drinking.
• If boiling isn’t possible, use unscented household bleach. Add 1/8 teaspoon of bleach per gallon of water, stir and let it stand for 30 minutes. The water should have a slight bleach odor. If it doesn’t, then repeat the dosage and let stand for another 15 minutes. (Source: EPA.gov)

Additionally, if you have access, you can safely drink water from your home’s water heater tank. It is also safe to drink melted ice made with water that was not contaminated. You may want to collect the clean ice and put it into a cooler for storage, so you can keep the freezer closed. Make sure your storage area is clean before storing ice that will be consumed.

Remember:

• Do NOT drink water from swimming pools, spas and collected rainwater.
• Do NOT drink water from radiators or boilers in a home heating system.
• Do NOT use suspected or contaminated water to wash dishes, brush your teeth, wash and prepare food, make ice, or make baby formula.

To learn more about safe drinking water, visit: https://www.ready.gov/water

FEMA Home Repair Assistance is money to repair your primary home that you own and live in if it was damaged by a disaster and not covered by insurance or other means. The amount of assistance provided is based on damage verified by FEMA during inspection. Home Repair Assistance is limited and is intended to make the home livable; it is not intended to fully restore the home to its pre-disaster condition.

To be eligible for Home Repair Assistance, you must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• You must be a U.S. Citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified non-citizen or be the parent or guardian of a qualified minor that is part of the household.
• FEMA must be able to verify your identity.
• Your insurance, or other forms of disaster assistance received, cannot meet your disaster-caused needs.
• You must also be a homeowner whose primary residence was made unlivable by the disaster.
• Your home must be in the declared disaster area.