Contact Local Officials About Substantial Damage and Permits Before Starting Work

BATON ROUGE, La.— Move your recovery forward and get informed to make sure you invest resources properly and rebuild or repair wisely.
 
Contact your community’s floodplain management or building officials to start the inspection process to determine if your home or business is substantially damaged. Also get the proper permits for things like plumbing, electrical system, foundation and structural repairs.

Substantial damage exists in Special Flood Hazard Areas, or floodplains—areas that have increased flooding risks— when the cost of restoring a structure equals or exceeds 50 percent of the structure’s pre-damage market value. However, some communities enforce a more restrictive definition. 
 
It’s important to know the structural damage percentage of your home or business because that information helps determine the work needed to repair or replace the damaged structure. It also helps determine if additional work will be needed to comply with local codes and ordinances.

You may appeal a substantial damage determination with your local officials if you disagree with their decision.

A structure located in a floodplain must be brought into compliance with local regulations if a local official determines it is substantially damaged. Local building departments may have adopted standards higher than FEMA’s that property owners would have to comply with when rebuilding.
 
Owners who decide to rebuild may need to elevate their structures, or change them in some other way to comply with local regulations and avoid future flood losses. Those who own non-residential structures may need to flood-proof their building.

Contact Local Officials About Substantial Damage and Permits,

Property owners who have flood insurance and a substantially damaged building in a floodplain may be able to get additional funds for costs related to complying with local regulations. Contact your insurance agent for more information. 

Your parish emergency management office can assist with contacting your community’s floodplain management or building officials.  Find their contact information online at www.gohsep.la.gov/about/parishpa.

If you have specific questions about your flood insurance policy or flood insurance claim, please call the FEMA call center at 800-621-3362 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and select Option 2.  If you use TTY, call 800-462-7585.  If you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

Learn more about mitigation by going online to fema.gov/Louisiana-disaster-mitigation.

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Contact Local Officials About Substantial Damage and Permits Before Starting Work

Communities Urged to Apply for Aid to Rebuild Disaster-Resistant Infrastructure

NORTH LITTLE ROCK – Federal assistance is being offered to help Arkansas communities rebuild infrastructure to higher, more disaster-resistant standards and state officials are encouraging local governments to take advantage of that funding.

The assistance to communities is part of the aid that became available following the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding Dec. 26, 2015 to Jan. 22, 2016.

“Generally, the federal Public Assistance program restores disaster damaged infrastructure to pre-disaster conditions,” said John Long, federal coordinating officer for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. “But when cost effective and technically feasible, it makes sense to rebuild to higher standards that can prevent future loss. FEMA makes available the funds to do so.”

FEMA’s Public Assistance program provides federal funds to reimburse a minimum of 75 percent of the costs for removing debris, conducting emergency protective measures and repairing levees, roads, bridges, public utilities, water control facilities, public buildings and parks. Mitigation funding may be considered in each project category.

Eligible applicants may include:

  • state agencies
  • local and county governments
  • private nonprofit organizations that own or operate facilities that provide essential government-type services

“Studies show that every $1 paid toward mitigation saves an average of $4 in future disaster-related costs,” said State Coordinating Officer Scott Bass of the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management Agency. “By adding mitigation money to repair costs, our goal is to reduce or eliminate damages from future disasters.”

As part of the process for applying for federal assistance, experts from ADEM and FEMA help identify projects that will qualify for the special mitigation program. Officials urge applicants to take advantage of the funds.

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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.

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Communities Urged to Apply for Aid to Rebuild Disaster-Resistant Infrastructure

Don’t Forget to File a Flood Insurance Claim

MONTGOMERY, Ala. ‒ Homeowners and business owners who experienced flooding during the April 28 to May 5 presidentially declared disaster should file a claim for flooding loss as soon as possible, as claimants must file for their losses within 60 days of the event. 

Contact your agent or insurance company to file a claim. An adjuster from the insurance company should contact you within a few days of filing a claim. If you do not hear from an adjuster, call your insurance agent or company again. Make sure you have the following information handy:

  • The name of your insurance company.
  • Your policy number.
  • A telephone and/or email address where you can be reached at all times.

Remember, a flood insurance policy is usually separate from your homeowner’s policy, which in most cases does not pay for flood claims.

Next, separate damaged from undamaged property. Your adjuster will need evidence of the damage to your home and possessions to prepare your repair estimate.

  • Take photographs of all damaged property, including discarded objects, structural damage and standing floodwater levels.
  • Make a list of damaged or lost items and include their date of purchase, value and receipts, if possible.
  • Officials may require disposal of damaged items, so if possible, place flooded items outside of the home.

Finally, your adjuster will provide you with a Proof of Loss form for your official claim for damages. Remember, you must file this claim with your insurance company within 60 days of the flood – or by the end of June.

This document substantiates the insurance claim and is required before the National Flood Insurance Program or insurance company can make payment.

You will receive your claim payment after you and the insurer agree on the amount of damages and the insurer has your complete, accurate and signed Proof of Loss form. If major catastrophic flooding occurs, it may take longer to process claims and make payments due to the sheer number of claims submitted.

For general flood insurance questions, call the National Flood Insurance Call Center at 800-427-4661directly or through 711 Relay or contact your insurance company or agent.

 

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Don’t Forget to File a Flood Insurance Claim