Holiday Farm Fire Survivors Should Appeal If FEMA Applications Denied

Source: McKenzieRebuilds.org

We are hearing reports from Holiday Farm Fire survivors that their applications to FEMA for individual assistance were denied. It is important that you know you have the right to appeal if you are denied.

Often denials are because FEMA is missing a piece of information or document. Some common reasons for denial include:

• You are insured. Contact FEMA if your insurance settlement is insufficient to meet your disaster-related needs or if you have exhausted the Additional Living Expenses provided by your insurance company.
• Your insurance company denies your claim. You must provide documentation that identifies the denial or exclusions of your insurance settlement before FEMA will consider your assistance eligibility.
• You reported no home damage when you registered with FEMA. If you reported your home had no damage but later discover it’s not habitable anymore, contact FEMA to let them know.
• Home is safe to occupy. FEMA housing assistance typically only covers costs to make your home habitable.
• Proof of occupancy. When FEMA is unable to verify occupancy of your primary residence, you may provide FEMA with documentation, such as utility bills, a bank or credit card statement, phone bill, pay stubs, a driver’s license, state-issued ID card or voter registration card showing the damaged dwelling’s address.
• FEMA could not verify your identity. FEMA must be able to verify the identity of the applicant/co-applicant. FEMA will ask for the last four digits of their social security number. If that information cannot be provided, FEMA will ask for their date of birth along with other verifiable information.
• No initial rental assistance. You indicated to the inspector that you were not willing to move while your damaged home was being repaired. This made you ineligible for FEMA temporary rental assistance. However, you may have since found further damage to your home that may require you to move. Since your housing needs have changed, contact FEMA as soon as possible to update your housing status.

Collecting the following documents before you start your appeal may make the process easier:

• Decision letter from FEMA in response to your request for assistance;
• A copy of the lease if you rent your apartment or home;
• Homeowners or flood insurance policy and any correspondence to/from the insurer regarding denial or settlement of the claim;
• Rent receipts or other proof of payment for alternate housing (if FEMA denied rental assistance);
• Estimates, contracts, receipts, cancelled checks, or other proof of expenses for home repair, personal property replacement, moving and storage costs, medical or dental treatment, or funeral expenses; and/or
• Inspection reports, photographs, or other proof that your home was made uninhabitable by the storm.
• Send a letter with any additional documentation to FEMA asking for reconsideration. This must be done within 60 days of the date of your ineligibility letter. Late appeals will be considered with a written or verbal explanation as to why the appeal was late (for example, lack of available contractors, illness, and/or work).

You can send the letter in one of the following ways:

• By mail: FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program, National Processing Service Center, P.O. Box 10055, Hyattsville MD 20782-7055.
• By fax: 1-800-827-8112.
• Online via a FEMA online account: to set up an online account, visit www.DisasterAssistance.gov, click on “Check Status” and follow the directions.

There may be other reasons why FEMA determined you were ineligible. However, you may still be eligible for a low-interest disaster loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) or a grant under FEMA’s Other Needs Assistance program. If you have questions about the letter you received, call FEMA at 800-621-3362 (TTY: 800-462-7585).

You can learn more about appealing a FEMA decision letter, as well as review FEMA’s Individual Assistance Program handbook at www.mckenzierebuilds.org/fema-iap.

FEMA denies direct housing mission; efforts will focus elsewhere

Last week, Lane County was notified that FEMA would not approve our request for a direct housing mission to help provide housing for people displaced by the Holiday Farm Fire.

Two reasons that FEMA gave for the denial were 1) the risk of landslides and flooding on potential upriver locations for housing, and 2) the availability of rental housing in Lane County. FEMA has increased the amount that it provides for rental assistance to 125 percent of its fair market value rate.

We are working with the Governor’s Office to find out what other help may be available based on FEMA’s denial. There may be resources we can access to help fire victims now that we have FEMA’s decision. Lane County has also submitted an application to Project Turnkey and is hopeful that our application will make it into the next phase of review.

Cleaning up yourself?

We recommend that Holiday Farm Fire survivors participate in the State’s ash and debris cleanup program. It’s free with very few exceptions and will leave properties ready for rebuilding. Details at wildfire.oregon.gov/cleanup.

If you decide to clean up on your own, there are local regulations and safety precautions that you need to be aware of before you begin. Watch the short video below for details.

More information is available at www.mckenzierebuilds.org/debris-management-for-property-owners.

Do you have questions about what resources might be available to help with Holiday Farm Fire recovery?

541-682-FIRE (3473)
WildfireRecoveryHelp@LaneCountyOR.gov
www.mckenzierebuilds.org

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