PRESS RELEASE

FEMA Inspectors Conduct Property Damage Inspections
BATON ROUGE, La. (September 7, 2008) – Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) inspectors continue to examine property damage Saturday as part of the FEMA process that brings assistance to Louisiana residents who have registered with FEMA in the wake of Hurricane Gustav.

Louisiana residents who have registered for assistance will soon see FEMA inspectors who are in communities to examine all damaged property and verify the extent of damage caused by the Hurricane Gustav. FEMA schedules inspections within seven to 10 days from the time an applicant registers by phone.

"Inspectors are in the field to confirm your loss," said Federal Coordinating Officer Michael J. Hall of FEMA. "We encourage residents with property damage to register quickly with FEMA and be ready to welcome our inspectors who will help speed your claim process."

Before an inspector is assigned to an applicant, homeowners and renters with uninsured or underinsured disaster-related damage must register with FEMA. They can register by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362)
(TTY 1-800-462-7585) online at www.fema.gov. Multilingual assistance is available.

Once applicants have registered:

• An inspector will call to schedule an appointment to visit the damaged property.  This is necessary to confirm eligibility for FEMA assistance for disaster-related losses.  Applicants are asked to be at home when inspectors visit.
• The inspector will evaluate the extent of damage to an applicant’s house or apartment and determine whether it is in a livable condition by checking the building and its systems. Damage to major appliances — washer, dryer, furnace, refrigerator, stove — will be assessed. Inspectors should be informed about any important losses such as clothing, medical equipment, tools needed for a trade and educational materials.
• Homeowners and renters with private septic systems and wells should point out these facilities.  FEMA assistance may be available to repair or replace damaged systems.
• Applicants can help speed the inspection by having documents — mortgage payment, utility receipt, lease, etc. — ready to show proof of ownership or occupancy to the inspector. Having insurance papers available if possible is also helpful.

FEMA inspectors have agency photo identification and will never charge a fee for any service.  If you suspect fraud from any inspector or other person offering assistance, report them to the nearest law enforcement agency.

For more information on the Louisiana disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov or http://www.emergency.louisiana.gov/

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FEMA coordinates the federal government’s role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.