GUAYNABO, Puerto Rico – Registering with FEMA is the first step in qualifying for disaster assistance after contacting your insurance agent to verify if disaster damage is covered. The last day to apply for FEMA disaster assistance is Tuesday, March 20, 2018. Survivors who have homeowners or flood insurance, or both, should register with FEMA and file a claim through their insurance company.
If you are a homeowner or renter with insurance and your home or personal property sustained damage from Hurricanes Irma and Maria:
- You must file a claim with your mortgage provider and/or insurance company agent.
- Be prepared to fully describe damage caused by the disaster.
- You should keep a record of all contact you have with the bank or the insurance company.
- You should keep a record of the claim number and the date you filed it.
- You must keep all damage repair receipts.
In addition to your insurance’s inspection, a FEMA inspector will schedule a visit to assess your disaster related damage. FEMA will also request insurance claim documentation, such as a decision letter (settlement or denial), to further process your application.
You may be eligible for assistance with losses and needs not covered or those in excess of your policy coverage. However, under federal law FEMA cannot duplicate benefits that are covered by insurance, therefore, survivors must be careful not to accept the same benefits from more than one source.
Filing your homeowner’s insurance claim, registering with FEMA, and applying for a SBA low-interest personal loan will provide the largest amount of funds available for your recovery.
FEMA encourages both insured and uninsured survivors who sustained disaster-related damage or losses to take control of their recovery by registering or following-up at the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-FEMA (3362) (voice, 711 or Voice Relay Service), TTY: 800-462-7585 (press 2 for Spanish). Lines are open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Or visiting a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC). To find your closest DRC, go to our website: fema.gov/drc.
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Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362) (voice, 711/VRS - Video Relay Service.) Multilingual operators are available. (Press 2 for Spanish). TTY call 800 -462-7585.
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