Making Repairs and Rebuilding Wisely Following July’s Storm Damage in Kentucky

FRANKFORT, Ky. – As important as it is to make home repairs as soon as possible following a natural disaster, it is also important to take some time to plan the project, consult with local officials and choose a contractor wisely.

Before You Start:

  • Contact the local permitting office. Follow all local and state requirements.  
  • Check with your local building official to make sure your work is safe and meets all local and state codes and requirements.

How to Help Reduce Future Damage:

  • Consider using building materials that are more resistant to flood, wind, corrosion and decay.
  • If siding or roof sheathing needs replacement, consider installing hurricane/seismic connectors at the rafter-to-wall or truss-to-wall connections. Adding wall-to-foundation ties may also be necessary.
  • Windows, doors and skylights should be checked for leaks. If they need replacement, consider impact-resistant units.
  • Check your attic for adequate insulation. Straps should be added from rafters to wall top plates, and gable end-wall framing should be braced.
  • Inspect soffits to determine if structural upgrades are necessary.
  • If you live in a flood-prone area, elevate appliances such as air conditioners.

How to Select Your Contractor Carefully:

  • You are advised to watch out for home improvement scammers saying they have left over materials or say they noticed your home was damaged and can repair it. Take your time to choose your contractor.
  • Look for a contractor with an established physical address.
  • Get bids from more than one person. Make sure they are in writing and specify exactly what will be done.
  • Beware of a low-ball price.
  • Ask for references and contact them.
  • Make sure the contractor has the proper licenses and insurance coverage required in Kentucky.
  • Never pay the full price in advance.

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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.

All FEMA disaster assistance will be provided without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment), religion, national origin, age, disability, limited English proficiency, economic status, or retaliation. If you believe your civil rights are being violated, call 800-621-3362 or 800-462-7585 (TTY).

For more information on Kentucky’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov or http://kyem.ky.gov.

On Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/KYEmergencyManagement. To receive Twitter updates: http://twitter.com/kyempio or www.twitter.com/femaregion4.

 

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Making Repairs and Rebuilding Wisely Following July’s Storm Damage in Kentucky

Survivors in the Florida Panhandle Warned to Watch Out for Scam Artists

PENSACOLA, Fla. – With many Floridians on the road to recovery from the recent storms and flooding, state and Federal Emergency Management Agency officials warn of scam artists.

“We understand that survivors are anxious to get repairs done and get the help they need to put their lives back in order,” said State Coordinating Officer Bryan Koon. “As you begin repairs, please take the necessary steps to ensure that you are hiring legitimate, responsible contractors.”

The state and FEMA caution residents to be on alert for scam artists using tricks to obtain vital information or take advantage of storm-weary survivors.

Some of the scams often used are:

Home Repair

Unlicensed home improvement contractors may take the disaster survivor’s money and disappear, leaving unfinished work and unsafe homes. Before hiring a contractor, storm survivors should check with the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation online at www.myfloridalicense.com. The DBPR website provides information about licensed contractors.

Always ask for proof of the contractor’s liability insurance. All contracts should be in writing and carefully reviewed before being signed. Full payment should not be made until the work is completed. The local police department should be notified of suspected fraud.

Price Gouging

Excessive price increases are illegal. Check with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs at freshfromflorida.com/Divisions-Offices/Consumer-Services or call 800-HELP-FLA or TTY 800-435-7352 if you suspect prices are unreasonably high.

False Payments and Bribes

Con artists may pose as insurance specialists or expeditors, claiming they can convince FEMA to increase home repair damage aid or the insurer to pay a larger settlement. The scammers ask the applicant or policyholder to sign a contract giving them a percentage of the “increased” payment.

The essence of the con is to take a percentage of the damage grant or policy settlement. FEMA always deals directly with each applicant and is always willing to consider an appeal by sending a new inspector to review damaged property or claimed losses.

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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.

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.

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Survivors in the Florida Panhandle Warned to Watch Out for Scam Artists

Arkansans: Things to Know About Debris Removal

Little Rock, Ark. – For many Arkansans in Faulkner County affected by the April 27 tornadoes, cleanup is well underway. That means residents may have questions regarding the types of debris that can be left at the curb for collection and how to handle debris when a homeowner hires a contractor.

DEBRIS PLACED ON RIGHT OF WAY

Tornado-related debris is eligible for pickup and disposal by the county or municipality if residents place the following types of debris on the public right-of-way in front of their property for pick-up. When placing debris at the roadside, residents should be careful not to cover or impede access to utility meters or mailboxes.

Residents opting for curbside pick-up must separate debris into six (6) categories:

  • Vegetative debris (tree limbs, shrubs, etc.)
  • Construction/Demolition debris
  • White goods (appliances, etc.)
  • E-goods (TV’s, electronics)
  • Household hazardous (cleaning solutions, automotive chemicals, etc.)
  • Normal household garbage

DEBRIS HANDLED BY CONTRACTORS

Some homeowner’s insurance policies may cover debris removal.  Residents are reminded that if they choose to hire their own contractor, they should not place that debris on the right-of-way. The cost of debris disposal is typically included in the contractor’s estimates. Homeowners should review their insurance policies to determine if their policy covers debris removal.

Under no circumstances will reconstruction debris or demolition debris created by the property owner or the private contractor be pushed to the curb. The property owner, insurance company or contractor is responsible for removing and transporting all demolition and/or reconstruction debris to an approved designated landfill.

  • Reconstruction debris includes any construction material that must be removed from the damaged structure (shingles, portions of roofs, etc.) to bring it back to pre-disaster function.
  • Demolition debris includes construction material created by the physical deconstruction of the remaining portions of a disaster-damaged structure (walls, roof, flooring, slabs, outbuildings, etc.) in preparation for the construction of a new building.

OTHER THINGS TO BE AWARE OF WHEN HIRING CONTRACTORS

  • Watch out for:
    • Phone or door-to-door solicitors who promise to speed up the insurance, disaster assistance or building-permit process.
    • People who ask for large cash deposits or advance payments in full.
    • Promises of large amounts of money for disaster victims.
    •  FEMA/State disaster assistance funds are sent to applicants by electronic funds transfer (EFT) or through the U.S. mail ONLY!
    • People going door-to-door to damaged homes or phoning survivors and claiming to be building contractors or soliciting personal information such as Social Security or bank account numbers; they could be frauds.

Those who suspect anyone of engaging in fraudulent activities should call the FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline at 1-866-720-5721. Complaints may also be made to local law enforcement agencies and through the Arkansas Attorney General Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-482-8982.

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Arkansans: Things to Know About Debris Removal

Rhode Islanders Urged to Be Smart and Cautious When Repairing Flood Damage

WARWICK, R.I.– Federal and state recovery specialists urge Rhode Islanders affected by Hurricane Sandy to be careful and smart about rebuilding. Be careful about hiring contractors and be smart about improving your property’s resistance to future floods. The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency offer the following tips on rebuilding and working with contractors.

Here are some recommendations to reduce the amount of damage from a future flood. Details are in brochures from FEMA that are available online at http://go.usa.gov/gwAh.

  • Rebuild with materials that resist flood damage:  Building materials are considered flood resistant if they can withstand direct contact with flood waters for at least 72 hours without being significantly damaged.

  • Elevate or relocate electrical system components, the HVAC system and appliances. Flood waters quickly destroy electrical elements. Panel boxes, circuit breakers, wall switches, wall outlets, the HVAC system and appliances should be located at least one foot above the base flood elevation or even moved to a higher floor for safety.

  • Install a sewer backflow valve: Flooded sewer systems can force sewage back into the home. This complicates cleanup and, more importantly, creates a health hazard. Backflow valves installed inside or outside the structure will stop sewage backup.

  • Anchor fuel tanks. Fuel tanks, either inside or outside the home, should be anchored to prevent them from overturning or breaking loose in a flood. Metal straps and bolts should be non-corrosive and wood structural supports should be pressure treated.

Most of these modifications should be carried out only by a professional contractor licensed to work in your area. When hiring contractors to repair homes damaged by flooding, be cautious to avoid being taken advantage of by scam artists.

  • Get a written estimate. Compare services and prices before choosing a contractor.

  • Check references.

  • Use a licensed, insured contractor. Get proof—see the card issued by the Rhode Island Contractors Registration and Licensing Board that the contractor is registered and insured. If the contractor is not insured, the homeowner may be liable for accidents that occur on the property.

  • Require a written contract. Have a lawyer review the contract if substantial costs are involved.

  • Get guarantees in writing.

  • Make final payments only when work is satisfactorily completed.

  • Pay by credit card, if possible, or by check.  Avoid on-the-spot cash payments. A reasonable down payment is 30 percent of the total cost of the project, to be paid upon first delivery of materials.

  • If necessary, cancel a contract. Be sure to follow the procedures for cancellation that are set out in the contract. Send the notification by registered mail with a return receipt to be signed by the contractor.

You can find out if a contractor is licensed and insured and get more information about hiring contractors on the web site of the State of Rhode Island’s Contractors Registration and Licensing Board, www.crb.ri.gov/.

If you suspect contractor fraud, contact the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Unit at 401-274-4400.

 

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.

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 medical and dental expenses, funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA loan officers to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

SBA disaster loan information and application forms may be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for people with speech or hearing disabilities) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET or by sending an e-mail to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Applications can also be downloaded from www.sba.gov or completed on-line at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/

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Rhode Islanders Urged to Be Smart and Cautious When Repairing Flood Damage

Scam Artists Attempt To Prey On Disaster Survivors

TRENTON, N.J. – Fraud and scams are age-old issues that surface in the aftermath of any disaster. Using old and new methods, scam artists seek to obtain vital information or take advantage of survivors focused on recovery.

New Jersey residents need to be on alert. Some of the most common scams after a disaster include:

Home Repair Scams

Unregistered home improvement contractors may take the disaster survivor’s money and disappear, leaving unfinished work and unsafe homes. Before hiring a contractor, the survivor should check with the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs at 800-242-5846 to make sure the contractor is registered, as well as ask for a copy of the contractor’s liability insurance and verify the policy is valid. All contracts should be in writing, and reviewed before being signed. Full payment should not be made until the work is completed.

The local police department should be notified of suspected fraud.

Price Gouging

Excessive price increases are illegal. Check with the New Jersey Consumer Affairs office at www.NJConsumerAffairs.gov or call 800-242-5846 if you suspect the prices are too high.

Identity Theft

People may pretend to be employed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or other government agencies, such as the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) or public utilities. By going door-to-door to storm-damaged homes, or by phone or on the internet, con artists may try to obtain personal information such as Social Security and bank account numbers.

Remember:

  • A FEMA or SBA shirt or jacket is not absolute proof of someone’s affiliation with these agencies. All authorized FEMA or SBA personnel display a laminated photo identification card, which they are required to wear at all times;
  • Individuals can register for assistance and follow up on previous applications online at DisasterAssistance.gov, or by web-enabled mobile device at m.FEMA.gov. By phone or 711/VRS, call 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 800-462-7585.
  • On any follow-up calls, a FEMA representative would ask only for the last four digits of the applicant’s social security number.

False Payment or Bribe

Imposters may ask for some form of service payment, or bribe – something no FEMA, SBA or federal agency employee should ever do. FEMA-contracted housing inspectors assess damage but do not determine cost estimates. FEMA does not hire or endorse specific contractors to fix homes or recommend repairs.

Con artists may pose as insurance specialists or expeditors, claiming they can convince FEMA to increase home repair damage aid or the insurer to pay a larger settlement. The scammers ask the applicant or policyholder to sign a contract giving them a percentage of the “increased” payment. The essence of the con is to take a percentage of the damage grant or policy settlement that would be given anyway. FEMA always deals directly with each applicant and is always willing to consider an appeal by sending a new inspector to review damaged property or claimed losses.

Charity Scams

Before donating, people should investigate to be sure the organization asking for donations is registered to solicit in New Jersey and ask how the money will be used.

For other questions, New Jersey residents can contact the New Jersey Consumer Affairs office at www.NJConsumerAffairs.gov or by calling 800-242-5846.

 

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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 FEMA online at www.fema.gov/blog, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema,

and www.youtube.com/fema.  Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema. 

The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

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Scam Artists Attempt To Prey On Disaster Survivors

Watch Out For Fraudsters

TRENTON, N.J. — As many Garden State residents work to recover from Hurricane Sandy, state and federal officials are warning of a danger lurking around the corner:  phony building contractors and other scam artists could soon appear in your community attempting to take advantage of your vulnerability as a disaster survivor.

There are a few simple steps that you can take to make sure you’re dealing with an honest person. 

Your first and best defense is to know the most common post-disaster fraud practices.

Here are some of the fraudster’s favorites:

Phony housing inspectors: If your home’s damage is visible from the street, you may be especially vulnerable to the phony housing inspector who claims to represent FEMA or the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). You should:

  • Ask to see the inspector’s identification badge if he or she does not offer to show it. A FEMA or SBA shirt or jacket is not proof of someone’s affiliation with the government. All federal employees and contractors carry official, laminated photo identification.

  • Avoid giving bank account numbers to an inspector claiming to be affiliated with the federal government. FEMA inspectors never require banking information.

  • Understand that FEMA housing inspectors verify damage, but do not hire or endorse specific contractors to fix homes or recommend repairs. They also do not determine cost estimates.

Fraudulent building contractors:  Damage visible from the street can also bring out sham contractors who visit your home offering to begin work immediately. They take your money and disappear, leaving behind unfinished work and unsafe homes. 

  • Before hiring a contractor, check with the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs at 800-242-5846 to make sure the contractor is registered.

  • Ask for a copy of the contractor’s liability insurance and verify that the policy is valid.

  • All contracts should be in writing, and reviewed before being signed.

Fake offers of state or federal aid: If someone claiming to be from FEMA or the state visits, calls

or emails you asking for your Social Security number, bank account number or other sensitive information, beware. That information could be sold to identity thieves or used to defraud you.

A twist on this scam is the phone or in-person solicitor who promises to speed up the

insurance, disaster assistance or building-permit process. Then there are scam artists who promise

you a disaster grant and ask for large cash deposits or advance payments in full.

Here’s what to do:

  • Provide your Social Security number and banking information only when registering for FEMA assistance, either by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), TTY 1-800-462-7585, or going online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via a web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov.   If you use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services, call 1-800-621-3362.

  • Know that federal and state workers do not solicit or accept money.  FEMA and SBA staff never charge applicants for disaster assistance, inspections or help in filling out applications.  If in doubt, do not give out information, and report people claiming to be government workers to local police.

Price Gouging:  Excessive price increases are illegal.  Check with the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs at www.NJConsumerAffairs.gov or call 800-242-5846 if you suspect prices are too high.

Charity Scams:  Before donating, be sure to investigate to make sure the organization asking for donations is registered to solicit in New Jersey.  Ask how the money will be used.

For other questions, New Jersey residents can contact the New Jersey Division of Consumer

Affairs office at www.NJConsumerAffairs.gov or by calling 800-242-5846.

 

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 FEMA online at www.fema.gov/blog, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema.  Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema. 

The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

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Watch Out For Fraudsters