def #95 05/13/10
HOME INSPECTION PART OF FEMA ASSISTANCE;
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW WHEN THE INSPECTOR VISITS
IF YOU ARE AN OCEAN COUNTY resident who may have had their home damaged during the severe weather and flooding of
mid-March and you have registered with FEMA for assistance, then you must have your home inspected. This is a very
important part of the recovery process.
“We want to make sure our residents have as much information as possible so they can successfully get through this
process,” said Freeholder John P. Kelly, Director of Law and Public Safety. “FEMA is providing a great deal of helpful
tips.”
This is what to expect when it comes to a home inspection:
A FEMA-contract inspector will contact you to arrange an appointment to inspect your home. When the inspector calls, be
sure to give clear, accurate directions to the damaged property and a current phone number where you can be reached. A
street address is needed. Post office boxes do not show locations. Also, be sure you provide FEMA a current phone number
where you can be reached, such as a cell phone, a hotel phone or the number of a relative. If you can’t be reached, you
can’t be helped.
When the inspector comes to your home, be sure to ask for identification. Inspectors are required to carry approved
FEMA identification badges that include the inspector’s name, photo and the name of the company under contract with
FEMA.
Inspectors will ask for information to verify your name and address and registration with FEMA. They will NOT ask for
a Social Security number nor ask to be paid for the inspection. The FEMA inspection is FREE, so beware of fraudulent
individuals attempting to charge for an inspection.
You must be able to provide written proof of ownership, such as a tax receipt, deed, mortgage payment book, or home
insurance policy with the damaged property’s address. With the necessary documentation you can help speed up the
inspection process.
Whether you are an owner or a renter, you must show that the damaged property was your primary residence when the
disaster occurred. Inspectors will accept a valid driver’s license or current utility bill (such as an electric, gas
or water bill) as proof of occupancy.
The inspection generally takes 30 to 40 minutes, during which the inspector will assess disaster-related damage for
both real and personal property and may take photos of the interior and exterior of the damaged dwelling. The inspector
will then enter damage-related information into a handheld computer and send that data electronically to FEMA, which
speeds up the process of providing assistance.
The inspector does not determine whether a registrant is eligible for assistance, or the amount of a FEMA grant the
individual may receive.
If you are a business or homeowner in Ocean County who suffered damage to your home or business or were otherwise
affected by the mid-March storm and flooding, you may be eligible for assistance. The deadline to apply is June 1,
2010.
To register for assistance, call FEMA’s toll-free number, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY/TDD 1-800-462-7585 for the
speech and hearing impaired (for relay service, call 711 or 1-800-852-7897) between 7 a.m. and 1 a.m., seven days a
week. Multi-lingual operators are available to answer calls during this time, and residents may also register online
anytime at www.disasterassistance.gov.
Information is also available on the Ocean County website at www.co.ocean.nj.us and at the Ocean County Office of
Emergency Management website at http://www.co.ocean.nj.us/EmMgmt/Main.aspx.
