Frequently Asked Questions About Disasters

One common disaster scam involves individuals pretending to be FEMA home inspectors.

All legitimate FEMA personnel carry official identification badges. Wearing FEMA- branded clothing in not enough proof.  Always ask the inspector to show you their official FEMA badge, which shows their name and photo.

For more information, visit www.fema.gov/fact-sheet/how-identify-fema-home-inspector

Remember, FEMA inspectors only require verification of identity, and not your FEMA registration number, Social Security number, or similar personal data.

To file a home insurance claim, gather your home insurance policy number, insurance company’s contact details, and your personal information. Document the disaster’s date, time, cause and a detailed description of the damage.  Make a list of missing or damaged items and document property damage with plenty photographs and/or videos, both inside and outside of your property.  Save all the receipts for disaster expenses, repairs and replacements, which may be eligible to be reimbursed.

After applying for disaster assistance with FEMA and if you had disaster-caused damage to your home and personal property, FEMA may verify the damage through an on-site or remote inspection.  Be sure to document all damage inside and outside your property with photos and videos prior to starting your cleanup.

FEMA assistance may be able to help pay for repairs that are needed to make your home safe, sanitary and secure to live in after it’s been damaged by a disaster.  These may include:

•  Property: FEMA may assist in the replacement or repairs to disaster-damaged furnaces, hot waters heaters, refrigerators and stoves. Non-essential items like dishwashers and home theatre equipment are not covered.
• Ceiling and roof damage: FEMA may assist to repair disaster-related leaks in a roof that damage ceilings and threaten electrical components, like overhead lights, but not stains from roof leaks.
• Floors: FEMA may assist to repair a disaster-damaged subfloor in occupied parts of the home but not floor covering like tile or carpet.
• Windows: FEMA may assist with disaster-related broken windows but not blinds and drapes.

FEMA does not manage debris cleanup after a storm. We don’t hire the cleanup crews, run the dump sites, or manage the transfer stations. While we do give money to state, local, tribal and/or territorial governments to help pay for debris removal, we don’t make the local rules about how that cleanup happens. Decisions about where dumpsites are, who picks up the trash, or who gets hired to do the work are made locally.   To learn more about local debris removal procedures, please visit your state or local emergency management agency website.  You can also visit www.211.org, which is a general resource that connects people to essential community services such as debris removal assistance. 

If you need a tree removed from your property after a disaster, we recommend that you first assess the danger and document the damage with photos and/or videos.  This could include trees leaning on a house, hanging above power lines, or blocking a road.  Documentation will be important for any claims you might file.

Next, contact your home insurance company. Many policies cover tree-removal if the tree fell due to a disaster and is damaging your home or blocking access.

You may also contact your city, county, or tribal government to inquire about local tree removal programs.  Some local governments have programs to assist with removing hazardous trees.

It’s important to note that FEMA doesn’t directly remove trees from private property.  We provide funding to local governments for debris removal, who then manage the cleanup.

Contact your local county, tribal or municipal government about clearing your road of debris after a disaster.  FEMA does not do direct debris removal, and does not hire, manage or supervise work performed by contractors for debris removal after storms.                          

Some private roads may be eligible after the work is done for reimbursement by FEMA under certain conditions, such as when a private road provides access to essential community services or is necessary for public health and safety.   Commercial property owners are responsible for debris removal from their private property.