The Filing Deadline for the National Flood Insurance Program is October 29

NEW YORK – The time limit to file proof of loss claims for policyholders affected by Hurricane Sandy is Oct. 29, 2014.

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) usually requires policyholders to submit a fully documented, signed and sworn proof-of-loss claim within 60 days from the date of their loss.

The magnitude of the Sandy disaster is the reason the filing deadline was extended for two years  to give policyholders additional time to file claims. 

The Proof of Loss document is included in the claims package that documents flood losses. The claims package should include:

  • photos and/or video of the flooding and resulting damage
  • a comprehensive, itemized list of what was damaged
  • receipts, if possible, for damaged items along with any other supporting documents showing the value of what you lost

As for filing, the location is dependent upon who wrote the policy. If a Standard Flood Insurance Policy was issued by a Write Your Own program-participating insurance company, the claimant should contact their insurance agent or the carrier directly to find out the proper address for submitting the Proof of Loss with supporting documentation.

To download a blank NFIP Proof of Loss document: http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=2545

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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The Filing Deadline for the National Flood Insurance Program is October 29

National Flood Insurance Program Deadline Extended for Filing Claims

NEW YORK – FEMA has granted a six-month extension for National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policyholders affected by Hurricane Sandy to file proof-of-loss claims.

The deadline is Oct. 29, 2014.

NFIP usually requires policyholders to submit a fully documented, signed and sworn proof-of-loss claim within 60 days from the date of their loss.

The magnitude of the Sandy disaster is the reason for this extension that will give policyholders additional time to file claims. This is the third six-month extension.

The Proof of Loss document is included in the claims package that documents flood losses. The claims package should include:

• photos and/or video of the flooding and resulting damage

• a comprehensive, itemized list of what was damaged

• receipts, if possible, for damaged items along with any other supporting documents showing the value of what you lost

To download a blank NFIP Proof of Loss document: http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=2545

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National Flood Insurance Program Deadline Extended for Filing Claims

Parishes Have Customized Community Recovery Resource Guide Available Online

BATON ROUGE, La. – Louisianians understand all too well the importance of building communities that can withstand what Mother Nature hurls at them.

As communities throughout the state plan for their future needs, they have a new way to find recovery resources. The National Disaster Recovery Support team has developed a Community Recovery Resource Guide containing Louisiana-specific information to help parishes locate funding sources and other available resources for local projects and initiatives.

“It’s basically a toolkit to help communities understand what’s out there right now,” said Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator Wayne Rickard. “Whether they’re rebuilding from a disaster or just doing normal planning, any community can use this.”

The searchable guide profiles nearly 900 recovery assistance programs through which communities can seek funding possibilities. It also includes grant writing guidance, planning manuals, case studies and examples of how governments can create recovery-related staff positions. It is accessible in two clickable online documents on FEMA’s Hurricane Isaac-specific web page at http://www.fema.gov/disaster/4080/.

The first is available at http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=7260. This resource page contains a link to the guide and one to a version that’s accessible for people with disabilities. The second, http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=7261, contains a link to an interactive version of the guide in which people can search for keywords and other terms.

The guide is also available through the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness’s online portal at http://gohsep.la.gov/disasrecovGovernment.aspx.

“A collection like this enables us to move ahead much more efficiently as we plan recovery strategies for future disasters,” said State Recovery Coordinating Officer Mark Riley. “Smaller groups often need some technical assistance to get a program organized and implemented, and these guides can help Louisiana communities find the help they need.”

Program profiles are identified by sector, which include agriculture and environment, economic and workforce development, education, floodplain management, historic and cultural resources, housing and community development, human services and public health, infrastructure and transportation, and public safety. These are divided into several parts, including:

  • Resource Identification Aids, which include state and federal publications, spreadsheets or directories identifying funding possibilities from state and local governments, regional and national foundations, and other groups;

  • Job Descriptions and Aids, which may help local governments by providing examples for creating recovery-related staff positions;

  • Case Studies and Mitigation Planning Publications; and

  • Miscellaneous resources such as Internal Revenue Service Disaster Loss Kits, a grant writing guide, planning manuals and community mapping project information.

More information on Louisiana disaster recovery is available online at www.fema.gov/disaster/4080 or www.gohsep.la.gov. FEMA is also on Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion6 and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA.

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Parishes Have Customized Community Recovery Resource Guide Available Online

Resolve To Rebuild Stronger, Safer, Smarter

NEW YORK – Most of us make New Year’s resolutions to look better, feel better or reach a long-term goal.

This year resolve to rebuild stronger, safer and smarter after Hurricane Sandy to save lives and property when the next weather disaster strikes.

Hazard mitigation is building smart, strong and safe to prevent future damage from severe weather. Smart building includes mitigating damage against floods, strong winds and even tornadoes.

Always contact a local building official before undertaking rebuilding, renovating or retrofitting to be sure your plans meet local and state government requirements. You also need the proper permits from your local municipality to avoid future problems.

Such simple mitigation measures as elevating electrical and heating systems and anchoring fuel storage tanks can provide a windfall of protection against severe weather. 

Mitigation can also include landscaping. For instance, sea oats and other grasses can provide soil stability against storm surge. Ask your landscaper what indigenous plants withstand severe weather and protect property. Professional tree pruning can save not only the tree but can minimize the damage caused by a tree in severe weather. 

Flooding

Just an inch of water can cause costly damage to your property.

The average annual U.S. flood losses in the past 10 years (2002-2011) were more than $2.9 billion.

Rebuilding smartly in a flood-prone area means preventing future damages from flooding such as elevating your structure above the base flood elevation or higher. Flood hazard maps show different zones of hazard which determines policy premiums. The lower the degree of risk, the lower the flood insurance premium.

By elevating your home above that potential flood elevation, you not only reduce the risk of flooding, you save on the cost of flood insurance. The FEMA’s NFIP policy can cover structures and personal property. You don’t have to live in a flood-prone area to buy FEMA’s flood insurance policy which is sold by most insurance agents.

To be eligible to buy FEMA’s flood insurance your community must participate in the National Flood Insurance Program. Check the Community Status Book to see if your community is already an NFIP partner. (http://www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program/national-flood-insurance-program-community-status-book)

Wind

Wind will quickly damage vulnerable homes and buildings. The roof is most susceptible to wind. The type of roof is the first factor in limiting damage.

Whether with new construction or retrofitting an existing roof, build to ensure the connections between the roof and walls are strong enough to resist the “uplift” effect of high winds. When the roof lifts off it may collapse back down on the house.

Getting down to the foundation, many homes are built on concrete pads to which they are only slightly connected. Severe winds pull the walls right out of the foundation. To resist high winds, structures must be firmly connected to foundations.

Mitigation Dollars at Work

For New York damages caused by Hurricane Sandy, the U. S. Small Business Administration has provided $357 million to help homeowners, businesses and private non-profit organizations rebuild their properties damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Sandy. Some funds have also been allocated for the mitigation of similar damages during future events.

More information about Resolving to Be Ready and Rebuilding Strong and Smart are available online:

  • Listo America –Ready.Gov

http://www.ready.gov/translations/spanish/america/beinformed/index.html

  • FEMA also has videos on YouTube: “What is Mitigation?”           

     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=057ZkeoFyc4

For more information on New York’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/SandyNY, www.twitter.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy and www.fema.gov/blog.

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Resolve To Rebuild Stronger, Safer, Smarter

Rebuilding Stronger, Safer, Smarter

TRENTON, N.J. — Before you hang any drywall or put your utilities back in the basement, make sure you’re practicing safe and smart rebuilding methods and following local building codes. It’s your house and you want to get back into it as quickly as possible. But, repairing or rebuilding a storm-damaged home takes thought and requires a lot more than your last do-it-yourself project.

First step:  Check with your local government about permit requirements.

Then, make sure that you do not have any asbestos issues on the property. If you suspect you do,go to www.state.nj.us/dep/dshw/rrtp/asbestos.htm to view the “Guidance Document for the Management of Asbestos-Containing Material (ACM).” The document comes from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. 

As you rebuild, consider making changes that will make your home better prepared to withstand the next disaster. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) maintains an extensive online library, including bi-lingual and multimedia resources that describe measures you can take to reduce future risks.

For rebuilding information, go to http://www.fema.gov/building-science. FEMA Building Science Resources to Assist with Reconstruction After Hurricane Sandy is an overview of available publications and is found at http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=6651. Other publications of interest are:

FEMA also has videos on YouTube: “What is Mitigation?” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=057ZkeoFyc4, and “Virginia Mitigation Best Practices – Elevating a Home” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpUEz_GIw4.  

For one-on-one assistance, visit the nearest Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) to speak with a Hazard Mitigation specialist.  DRC locations change frequently. The closest open offices can be found online at http://asd.fema.gov/inter/locator/home.htm. An alternative is to go to www.fema.gov and search for DRC locator.

The decision to rebuild stronger, safer and smarter may save your life and property in a future disaster.

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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Rebuilding Stronger, Safer, Smarter