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S.C. Flood Survivors Can Appeal FEMA Aid Determination

Release Number:

FYSA-News Release NR062 for DR 4241 SC

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina disaster survivors with questions about the assistance they received from FEMA or their eligibility determinations have the right to appeal the decision. Those who want to appeal should do so in writing within 60 days of the date of the determination letter.

Guidelines for appeals can be found on page 10 of the Applicant’s Guide, which is sent to everyone who registers with FEMA.

In the appeal letter to FEMA, an applicant should:

include full name, address, and date and place of birth;
include the last four digits of the applicant’s social security number;
include FEMA registration number and the disaster number, DR-4241, on every page;
explain why you disagree with FEMA’s decision;
include any supporting documentation for the appeal;
include the following statement: “I hereby declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.”;
sign the letter.

Appeal letters should be mailed to:

FEMA Appeals OfficerNational Processing Service CenterP.O. Box 10055Hyattsville, MD 20782-7055

Appeal letters and supporting documents can also be faxed to:

800-827-8112Attn: FEMA Appeals Officer

For disaster recovery center locations, visit: http://asd.fema.gov/inter/locator/home.htm.

FEMA recognizes that varying circumstances may prevent an applicant from filing an appeal within the standard 60-day appeal period. However, applicants who miss the 60-day deadline must submit with their appeals an explanation stating why they did not apply by the deadline. Applicants whose appeal letters are submitted outside the 60-day appeal period are not automatically denied a review.

FEMA and the South Carolina Emergency Management Division are committed to providing all eligible assistance to those who were affected by the Oct. 1-23 storms and flooding. Applicants with questions about their eligibility determinations or their assistance can contact FEMA by phone or visit a disaster recovery center to speak with an applicant services specialist.

The last day to register for FEMA assistance is Jan. 4, 2016. Residents can call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362, TTY 800-462-7585, 711/VRS 800-621-3362. Residents may also visit www.DisasterAssistance.gov.

FEMA is working with its federal, state and local partner agencies as well as private sector and voluntary agencies, and faith-based organizations to reach everyone who qualifies for disaster assistance under the Individuals and Households Program.

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Link:

S.C. Flood Survivors Can Appeal FEMA Aid Determination

Immediate Threat

Main Content

Appeal Brief | Appeal Letter | Appeal Analysis | Back

Second Appeal Brief

FEMA-4022-DR
PA ID# 003-08425-00; Town of Bennington
PW ID# 3094; Immediate Threat
09/15/2015

Conclusion: Sediment reworking and bank armoring are ineligible for funding as emergency protective measures because the work went beyond that which was required to lessen or eliminate immediate threats to nearby improved property.

Summary Paragraph

The Applicant is appealing FEMA’s determination in Project Worksheet (PW) 3094 that bank armoring, sediment reworking, and associated construction mobilization and engineering costs were ineligible for PA funding as emergency protective measures. Heavy rains from Tropical Storm Irene (“Irene”) deposited large quantities of debris and sediment along the Roaring Branch of the Walloomsac River causing flooding, bank erosion, redirected flow, and compromised channel capacity. The Applicant requested about $3.5 million for debris removal, bank armoring, and sediment reworking as emergency protective measures. FEMA determined that sediment reworking and bank armoring were ineligible for funding as emergency protective measures because the work exceeded that which was necessary to lessen or eliminate immediate threats. On first appeal, the Applicant contended that bank armoring and sediment reworking were essential to reduce immediate threats. The FEMA Region I Regional Administrator found that bank armoring and sediment reworking were ineligible for funding both as emergency protective measures and as permanent work. On second appeal, the Applicant maintains that sediment reworking and bank armoring were performed to reduce immediate threats. FEMA subsequently requested that the Applicant provide additional support that the damage was directly caused by the declared disaster, given the occurrence of subsequent Tropical Storm Lee shortly after Irene, the work performed reduced immediate threats, including characterization of the 5-year flood event on Roaring Branch, and predisaster design and maintenance records for the armored banks. The Applicant provided documents stating that (1) the damage was directly related to Irene and distinguished the work from that previously identified in a river corridor plan, (2) the work lessened immediate threats to nearby property from a 5-year flood event and Lee was only a 4.6-year flood event, and (3) prior bank armoring was not engineered. On April 3, 2015, the Applicant presented the information at Headquarters.

Authorities Discussed

Stafford Act § 403(a)(3)(I); § 403(c)(6)(B).
44 CFR § 206.201(b).
44 CFR § 206.221(c).
44 CFR § 206.225(a)(3).
Public Assistance Guide, FEMA 322, at 66; 71 (June 2007).

Headnotes

Stafford Act § 403(a)(3)(I) permits FEMAto provide essential assistance to reduce immediate threats to life, property, and public health and safety.
44 C.F.R. § 206.201(b) defines emergency work as work done immediately following a disaster to save lives and protect improved property, public health, and safety.
To be eligible, emergency protective measures must eliminate or lessen immediate threats to lives, public health or safety, or threats of significant additional damage to improved public or private property through cost effective measures. 44 C.F.R. § 206.225(a)(3), 44 C.F.R. § 206.221(c) and the PA Guide define an immediate threat as the threat of additional damage from an event which can reasonably be expected to occur within five years.
- Rather than carrying out the approved scope of work to remove debris necessary to eliminate the immediate threat, the Applicant permanently engineered an unimproved river channel to address longstanding issues associated with being located in an alluvial fan.

Source:

Immediate Threat

Documentation

Main Content

Appeal Brief | Appeal Letter | Appeal Analysis | Back

Second Appeal Brief

FEMA-1909-DR
PA ID# 037-52004-00; Nashville-Davidson County
PW ID# 5523; Documentation
08/31/2015

Conclusion: On second appeal, Nashville-Davidson County (Applicant) provided adequate documentation to support reimbursement of costs associated with resident engineering services.

Summary Paragraph

Between April 30, 2010 and May 18, 2010, severe rainstorms, tornadoes, and straight-line winds impacted Nashville-Davidson County (Applicant). The rainstorms caused the Cumberland River to overflow and subsequently floodwaters damaged electrical and mechanical components in the generator building located at Applicant’s K.R. Harrington Water Treatment Plant. FEMA subsequently prepared Project Worksheet (PW) 5523 documenting necessary repairs to these electrical and mechanical components. The PW did not document resident engineering costs and disallowed direct administrative costs (DAC). In a June 1, 2011 letter, the Applicant submitted its first appeal requesting $25,920.38 and arguing that FEMA made numerous scope and cost estimate errors. More specifically, the Applicant argued that FEMA made errors in estimating the following costs: DAC, resident engineering costs, construction management costs, and costs to replace metal doors. In a letter dated June 1, 2012, the FEMA Region IV Regional Administrator (RA) partially approved the appeal, granting the construction management costs and the costs to replace the metal doors but denying the request for DAC and resident engineering costs. The RA based the denial of resident engineering costs on a lack of adequate documentation. On August 10, 2012, the Applicant submitted its second appeal, requesting only resident engineering costs totaling $13,691.00. Upon FEMA’s subsequent request for additional information, the Applicant provided additional documents describing resident engineer’s services.

Authorities and Second Appeals

Stafford Act § 406 (a)(1)(A), 42 U.S.C. § 5172.
44 C.F.R. § 13.22.
OMB Circular A-87 Attachment A (C)(1)(a),(j), 2 C.F.R. § 225 Appendix A (C)(1)(a),(j)
PA Digest, at 48.
PA Guide, at 40, 59.

Headnotes

OMB Circular A-87 provides that allowable costs must meet the cost principles of being necessary; allocable to Federal awards; and adequately documented.
- The Applicant provided documentation to demonstrate that the resident engineering costs are necessary, allocable, and adequately documented for PW 5523.
PA Digest, at 48, provides that “[s]pecial services[,] which are not required on every restoration project, include engineering surveys, soil investigations, services of a resident engineer, and feasibility studies. These services must be specifically described and must be shown to be necessary for completing the eligible scope of work.”
- This project is part of 19 separate PWs associated with flood recovery efforts of a complex nature, and could require the use of resident engineering services.

Continued here:

Documentation

Debris Removal

Main Content

Appeal Brief | Appeal Letter | Appeal Analysis | Back

Second Appeal Brief

FEMA-1539
PA ID# 117-38425-00; City of Lake Mary
PW ID# 192 and 7156; Debris Removal
08/31/2015

Conclusion: The City of Lake Mary (Applicant) did not file its appeal within the 60-day regulatory timeframe as required by 44 C.F.R. § 206.206(c). Timeliness aside, the Applicant has not demonstrated, pursuant to 44 C.F.R. §§ 206.223(a)(3) and 206.224(a)-(b) and eligibility requirements within FEMA Disaster-Specific Guidance #8, Debris Removal from Roadways in Private or Gated Communities and the PA Guide, that work performed to remove disaster-related debris from private roads was eligible under the Public Assistance Program.

Summary Paragraph

FEMA prepared Project Worksheets (PWs) 192 and 7156 to document contract work to remove, reduce and dispose of debris deposited by Hurricane Charley throughout the City of Lake Mary (City). FEMA deducted $102,366.80 in costs from PW 192 on the basis that the Applicant failed to demonstrate legal responsibility for 5,118.34 cubic yards of debris removed from private property. The Applicant appealed FEMA’s deobligation and asserted that the provisions of its solid waste ordinance require the City to provide waste removal services at prescribed rates to all residents, and as a result, endow it, solely, with legal responsibility for the removal of all waste, including disaster-generated debris from private property. Moreover, the Applicant contended that previous FEMA second appeal determinations validated using a local government’s solid waste ordinance as a means to establish legal responsibility for disaster-debris removed from private property. The FEMA Region IV Regional Administrator denied the appeal, concluding that (1) the Applicant did not submit its appeal within the 60-day period pursuant to 44 C.F.R. § 206.206(c), and (2) a service agreement providing for routine yet limited, waste removal does not convey legal responsibility for private property debris removal.

Authorities and Second Appeals

Stafford Act § 423.
44 C
44 C.F.R. § 206.223(a)(3).
44 C.F.R. § 206.224(a)-(b).
FEMA Debris Removal from Roadways in Private or Gated Communities
PA Guide, at 46.

Headnotes

Stafford Act § 423 and 44 C.F.R.

§ 206.206(c) provide statutory and regulatory timeframes for submitting appeals.
The Applicant did not submit its appeals within the 60-day timeframe.
According to 44 C.F.R. § 206.223(a)(3) and FEMA Disaster-Specific Guidance #8, Debris Removal from Roadways in Private or Gated Communities, an eligible applicant must be legally responsible for removing debris from private roads.
The Applicant did not sufficiently establish that it was legally responsible for removing debris from private roads.
Pursuant to44 C.F.R. § 206.224(a)-(b) and Disaster-Specific Guidance #8, Debris Removal from Roadways in Private or Gated Communities and the PA Guide, FEMA may reimburse costs associated with debris removal when it is necessary to eliminate an immediate threat provided that the Federal government is held harmless and indemnified from claims resulting from the work performed.
- The Applicant did not establish that the debris on private roads was removed to serve the community at large in eliminating an immediate threat to lives, public health and safety.
- The Applicant failed to provide written hold harmless and indemnification information as required by Disaster-Specific Guidance #8, Debris Removal from Roadways in Private or Gated Communities and the PA Guide.

Debris Removal

Next Steps After Receiving a FEMA Determination Letter

SAIPAN – FEMA housing inspectors have been assessing damaged homes of applicants who registered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for damage sustained in Typhoon Soudelor. Once the inspection process is complete, your case will be reviewed by FEMA and you will receive a letter, or email if you signed up for E-Correspondence, outlining the decision:

If you qualify for a FEMA grant, FEMA will send you a check by mail or deposit it directly into your bank account. You will also receive a letter describing how you are to use the money. You should only use the money given to you as explained in the letter and we suggest that you save receipts on how you spent the money.
If you do not qualify for a FEMA grant, you will receive a letter explaining why you were ineligible and will be given clear information on how to appeal the decision*. Your appeal rights will be described in this letter. Appeals must be in writing and mailed within 60 days of FEMA’s decision.
If you are referred to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), you will receive an SBA application from SBA. The application must be completed and returned in order to be considered for a loan or for additional FEMA grant assistance. SBA representatives are available to help you with the application at local Disaster Recovery Center, at Pedro P Tenorio Multi-purpose Center in Susupe. Normal hours of operation are Monday-Saturdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sundays 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Completing and returning the loan application does not mean that you must accept the loan.

*An appeal is a written request to review your file again with additional information you provide that may affect the decision. You may appeal any decision provided by FEMA regarding your Individual Assistance.

Appeals may relate to your initial eligibility decisions, the amount or type of assistance provided to you, late applications, requests to return money, or a denial of Continued Temporary Housing Assistance. Prior to requesting an appeal review, you should review your file with a FEMA helpline agent at 1-800-621-3362 (FEMA), or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585, or request a copy of your file from FEMA so you can understand why you received the decision you want to appeal.

Follow these steps to appeal the decision.

Explain in writing why you think the decision about the amount or type of assistance you received is not correct. You, or someone who represents you or your household, should sign the letter and have it notarized. If the person writing the letter is not a member of your household, there must be a signed statement saying that the person may act for you.
Include the FEMA registration number and disaster number (shown at the top of your decision letter) in your letter of appeal. You should also include the last four digits of your social security number, your full name, your address, and your date and place of birth.
You may also want to include a copy of a government-issued identification card or include the following statement “I hereby declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct”.
If you have supporting documentation for your appeal, include that in your correspondence to FEMA.
Mail your appeal letter to:

FEMA – Individuals & Households Program
National Processing Service Center
P.O. Box 10055
Hyattsville, MD 20782-8055

or you can fax you appeal letter to:

(800) 827-8112
Attention: FEMA – Individuals & Households Program.

IMPORTANT: To be considered, your appeal letter must be postmarked within 60 days of the date of the decision letter’s date. Remember to date your letters.

All appeals are reviewed.
Decisions usually are made within 30 days of receiving the request.
Additional information may be requested from you if FEMA does not have enough information to make a decision.
You will be notified by mail of the response to your appeal.

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.

The SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners, and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover 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. For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling (800) 659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s website at www.sba.gov/disaster. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may call (800) 877-8339.

Taken from –

Next Steps After Receiving a FEMA Determination Letter

Procurement – Reasonable Costs

Main Content

Appeal Brief | Appeal Letter | Appeal Analysis | Back

Second Appeal Brief

1603
PA ID# 071-02E99-00; St. Mary’s Academy
PW ID# 17387; Procurement – Reasonable Costs
08/04/2015

Conclusion: The contract security services performed at St. Mary’s Academy were improperly procured pursuant to 2 C.F.R. Part 215; however, the actual costs were reasonable under OMB Circular A-122.

Summary Paragraph

In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina caused extensive damage to St. Mary’s Academy. FEMA determined that the facility was eligible for replacement. The Applicant relocated the school to a temporary location and contacted security service firms via phone and email requesting bid proposals. Based on the proposals, the Applicant selected three security firms for services from August 2007 to July 2010. FEMA prepared several versions of PW 17387, obligating actual costs. The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) subsequently performed OIG Audit DD-11-15, which found that the Applicant improperly procured security services by not allowing open competition. The OIG recommended that FEMA deobligate all funding. FEMA concurred with the OIG’s finding, but awarded reasonable costs, which FEMA determined to be the lowest rates among the proposals, deobligating $75,862.86. In its first appeal, the Applicant argued that it properly procured security services and that the actual costs were reasonable. FEMA denied the first appeal, finding that the Applicant did not properly procure the services, further deobligating $40,089.77 based on new information submitted in response to the Request for Information. The Applicant reiterates its first appeal position on second appeal.

Authorities and Second Appeals

2 C.F.R. § 215.0(b)(3) (2005).
2 C.F.R. § 215.1.
2 C.F.R. § 215.43.
2 C.F.R. § 215.44.
2 C.F.R. § 215.45.
2 C.F.R. § 215.46.
OMB Circular A-122.
Second Appeal Analysis, Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative, Inc., FEMA-4029-DR-TX.

Headnotes

Per 2 C.F.R. § 215.1, Part 215 establishes uniform administrative requirements for grants awarded to Private Non-Profits. § 215.0(b)(3) states that, where state and local governments provide subawards to a PNP, Part 215 applies.
- The Applicant is a PNP.
2 C.F.R. § 215.43 requires that all procurement transactions be conducted in a manner to provide open and free competition, awards be made to the bidder whose bid is responsive to the solicitation, and solicitations clearly set forth all requirements to the bidder.
- The Applicant did not provide documentation showing that it solicited bids from multiple companies.
- The Applicant, nonetheless, selected bidders who were responsive.
Section 215.44 outlines procurement procedures.
- The Applicant did not demonstrate that it had written procurement procedures.
- The Applicant considered and selected small, minority-owned, and/or women-owned businesses, where practicable.
- The Applicant utilized fixed-price contracts with a set number of guards at flat rates and selected responsible contractors who possessed the potential to perform successfully.
- The Applicant did provide FEMA with procurement documents upon request.
Section 215.46 requires retention of procurement records containing the basis for contract selection, justification for lack of competition, and basis for award cost or price.
- The Applicant did not provide records.
Section 215.62 allows FEMA to use legally available remedies when an applicant fails to comply. OMB Circular A-122 states that a cost is reasonable if it does not exceed that which a prudent person in the same situation would incur.
- The Applicant provided supporting documentation establishing that the selected rates were reasonable.

Excerpt from:

Procurement – Reasonable Costs

Don’t Forget That Date; Appeals Must be Submitted to FEMA Within 60 Days

Those who received a letter from the Federal Emergency Management Agency should take note of the date the letter was written. Appeals or submission of missing documents must be made within 60 days of that date.

Disaster survivors may request an appeal to review their cases regarding the amount or type of federal disaster assistance available.

The appeal must be in writing and explain why you disagree with a decision. Attach any new or additional documents supporting the appeal.

Appeal letters for the April 28 through May 5 severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding should also include:

Federal disaster declaration number, 4176-DR-AL, on all pages of documents.
Applicant information including:
- The nine-digit FEMA application number on all pages of documents,
- Applicant’s name,
- Applicant’s date and place of birth, and
- Address of the damaged dwelling.

Copies of verifiable documentation that supports the appeal. All receipts, bills and estimates must include contact information for the service provider. Keep all originals for your records.
A copy of a state-issued identification or driver’s license, unless the letter is notarized or includes the following statement: “I hereby declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.”
The applicant’s signature.

Applicants can call the Disaster Legal Services hotline phone number, 888-857-8571. The service is available from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday for free legal help with insurance claims.

In the Huntsville area of Limestone County, call 256-539-2275. Those in Mobile and Baldwin counties can call 855-997-2857.

Mail the appeal letter to: FEMA National Processing Service Center, P.O. Box 10055, Hyattsville, MD 20782-7055.

Applicants also may fax their appeal letter to: 800-827-8112, Attention: FEMA.

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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). For TTY call 800-462-7585.

FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for childcare, medical, dental expenses and/or funeral expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, those who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, transportation, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

For more information on Alabama’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov or http://www.ema.alabama.gov/. For the joint Facebook page, go to www.facebook.com/AlabamaEMA. To receive Twitter updates: http://twitter.com/AlabamaEMA or www.twitter.com/femaregion4

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Don’t Forget That Date; Appeals Must be Submitted to FEMA Within 60 Days

FEMA Determination Letters Are Not The End Of The Line

CLINTON, Miss. – Within 60 days of a decision letter from FEMA, Hurricane Isaac survivors in Mississippi can ask the agency to review their case again.

Some of the reasons for an initial determination of ineligibility can be easily remedied with more information such as:

Calling or writing to FEMA when a final insurance settlement is agreed upon.
Indicating a willingness to re-locate to another residence; answering “Yes” to this question indicates flexibility in considering other temporary housing solutions but does not commit an applicant to move.
Providing proof of ownership or residence, especially documents showing the damaged property was the primary residence at the time of the disaster.
Returning the SBA disaster loan application.
Signing essential documents.

Survivors can ask for another review to appeal the amount or type of help provided or any otherdecision about federal disaster assistance. Many issues can be resolved and allow applicants to receive disaster assistance.

When appealing, applicants should explain in writing why they disagree with a decision along withany new or additional documents supporting the appeal.

Appeal letters for Hurricane Isaac also should include:

Federal disaster declaration number 4081-DR-MS on all pages of documents
Applicant information, including;
- Nine-digit FEMA application number on all pages of documents
- Name
- Date and place of birth
- Address of the damaged dwelling
Copies of verifiable documentation that supports the appeal. All receipts, bills and estimates must include contact information for the service provider. Keep all originals for your records.
A copy of a state-issued identification card, unless the letter is notarized or includes the following statement: “I hereby declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.”
The applicant’s signature.

Applicants can call the Disaster Legal Services hotline phone number at 877-691-6185 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday for free legal help with insurance claims. They can also call the Mississippi Insurance Department at 800-562-2957.

Mail the appeal letter to:

FEMA

National Processing Service Center

P.O. Box 10055

Hyattsville, MD 20782-7055

Applicants may fax their appeal letter to:

(800) 827-8112

Attention: FEMA

It is important to have appeal letters postmarked within 60 days of the date on the decision letter.

If applicants have any questions about the letters, they should call 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 800-462-7585 or go to www.fema.gov/help-after-disaster.

Link:

FEMA Determination Letters Are Not The End Of The Line

Ineligibility Letters Start Conversations Between Survivors and FEMA

BATON ROUGE, La. – Hurricane Isaac survivors who received a letter from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) stating they are ineligible for disaster assistance should remember the letter is the beginning, not the end, of a conversation with FEMA.

FEMA encourages survivors who receive an ineligibility letter to ask any questions they may have or learn how they can initiate the appeal process. Survivors should know that FEMA specialists are available to explain or discuss these determinations.

Applicants can initiate a conversation by calling the FEMA Helpline or by visiting one of the 26 Disaster Recovery Centers open across southeast Louisiana for this disaster. The ineligibility letter also contains information on how to submit requested documentation or file an appeal.

“It’s important that Hurricane Isaac survivors reach out to us if they have specific questions about their cases. We are happy to provide answers for them,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Mike Hall of FEMA. “Survivors should follow up with us to understand why they received the notice and to let us take a second look.”

An applicant may be determined ineligible for a variety of reasons, including:

Insufficient hurricane-related damage to prevent living in the home
Adequate insurance coverage
Incorrect or missing contact information
Additional personal or insurance information is needed to complete the assistance evaluation process
Lapsed flood insurance or noncompliance with flood-insurance requirements from a previous disaster
No need or desire to relocate

If the ineligibility is based on the applicant’s decision to remain in the home and these circumstances change, they may contact FEMA to let us know they will relocate and to request rental assistance. Applicants may contact the Helpline within 30 days of the date of the ineligibility letter to notify FEMA of the change. If applicants change their mind after the 30-day deadline, they should put the request for rental assistance in writing.

Applicants who wish to appeal any ineligibility decision should submit a letter explaining in detail why they believe the decision is incorrect. The applicant, or someone who represents the applicant, should sign the letter and include their application number on each page of the letter and on any documentation that is also submitted. If the person writing the letter is not a member of the applicant’s household, the appeal should include a signed statement from the applicant affirming that the person may act on their behalf.

The appeal letter must be postmarked, received by fax or personally submitted at a Disaster Recovery Center within 60 days of the date on the decision letter. Keeping a copy of the appeal letter as a record is encouraged.

Appeal letters can be mailed to:

FEMA Individuals & Households Program
National Processing Service Center
P.O. Box 10055
Hyattsville, MD 20782-7055

Appeal letters can be faxed to:

1-800-827-8112
ATTN: FEMA Individuals & Households Program

Disaster assistance may include grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repair and other serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance or other sources.

Applicants ineligible for FEMA assistance may still be eligible for other programs such as disaster unemployment or help from nonprofit organizations. Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are also available for homeowners, renters, and business owners for losses not fully covered by insurance or other sources.

Louisianans are encouraged to register online at www.disasterassistance.gov, via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov, or by telephone at 1-800-621-3362 or TTY 1-800-462-7585. Those who use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services can call 1-800-621-3362. Operators are available from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

For more information on Louisiana disaster recovery, click on www.fema.gov/disaster/4080 or www.gohsep.la.gov. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion6 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA. Also visit our blog at www.fema.gov/blog.

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. Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/femaregion6, the R6 Hurricane Preparedness website at www.fema.gov/about/regions/regionvi/updates.shtm and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

SBA is the federal government’s primary source of funding for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts, and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover uninsured and uncompensated losses and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For information about SBA programs, applicants may call 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339).

Originally from:

Ineligibility Letters Start Conversations Between Survivors and FEMA

Disaster Assistance Includes Right of Appeal

Release Date: March 23, 2012
Release Number: 4058-013

» More Information on Indiana Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes

INDIANAPOLIS —Some Indiana residents who have registered for disaster assistance may have received letters saying their applications are denied. They should know that they have the right to appeal that decision.

Applicants who received denial letters should make sure they understand why they were denied. A denial may be due to various reasons. A visit to the Disaster Recovery Center in Sellersburg or a call to the FEMA Helpline at (800) 621-3362 can help provide a better explanation.

Many find their circumstances have changed from the time they registered for assistance. They may have discovered additional damage to their property, or that they need housing help after all. Displaced renters may find upon returning that their residences are unlivable. Whatever the reason, applicants have the right to appeal a denial within 60 days from the date of the determination letter.

Applicants must explain in writing why they believe the initial FEMA response was wrong and provide new or additional information and documents to support the appeal. They should also include their FEMA registration number and disaster number in the letter, along with their full name and address of the damaged home.

Appeals can be mailed to:

FEMA-Appeals Officer
National Processing Service Center
P.O. Box 1005
Hyattsville, MD 20782-8055

They may also be faxed to: 1-800-827-8112.

A video titled “You can Appeal” provides additional information at www.fema.gov/medialibrary/media_records/6506.

Federal disaster aid was made available on March 9 to the State of Indiana to supplement state and local recovery efforts in areas affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes during the period of Feb. 29 to March 3, 2012 in Clark, Jefferson, Ripley, Scott, Warrick and Washington counties.

Last Modified: Monday, 26-Mar-2012 12:17:17

Link to article:

Disaster Assistance Includes Right of Appeal