Some Storm Damage May Not Be Obvious—Inspect Furnaces Thoroughly

WINDSOR, Conn. – Hurricanes roll through with strong winds and storm surges that leave an ugly path in their wake. But not all damage is immediate or obvious, so survivors who experienced high winds, flooding or water damage should check their furnaces thoroughly.

As cold weather continues, concerns about furnaces include:

• Leaks in gas lines and oil pipes;
• Corrosion of electrical wiring from exposure to salt water;
• Problems with oil pumps moved or shaken by high winds or flooding;
• Debris lodged in chimneys; and,
• Sediment or mold that could blow into the house from ducts exposed to water.

“Recovery is a process that involves many steps, but don’t forget to think safety first,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Albert Lewis of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. “Local codes may require you to hire a licensed professional to check your wiring or gas lines, so check your local ordinances.”

For more information about recovering after the storm, visit a Disaster Recovery Center or check out the information online at www.ready.gov/recovering-disaster.

No matter how large or small the loss, anyone who experienced damage from Hurricane Sandy should register with FEMA. It does not matter whether the survivor has insurance or not, or is a homeowner or renter.

Survivors can register online anytime day or night at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or with a smartphone or device at m.fema.gov. Survivors can also register by phone anytime by calling FEMA at 800-621-3362. The TTY number is 800-462-7585. Multilingual operators are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, except for Thanksgiving Day when the hours are 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. The deadline to register is Dec. 31, 2012.

Having FEMA flood insurance does not register policyholders for disaster assistance.

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 800-621-3362. For TTY, call 800-462-7585.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private nonprofit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and covers the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.