[StBernard] What will FEMA pay for?

[Westley Annis]

Officials admit there has been confusion on the topic, so we are trying to 
simplify the matter.

First, do you live in one of the following parishes?

Acadia, Allen, Ascension, Assumption, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Cameron, East 
Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson, 
Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, 
Pointe Coupee, Rapides, Sabine, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. 
John the Baptist, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, 
Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Vermilion, Vernon, West Baton Rouge and West 
Feliciana.

If so, you may be eligible for help.

Next, were you under a mandatory evacuation? Or, did your home suffer 
damage or become inhabitable due to loss of water, power or sewer?  If you 
answered 'yes' to one of these questions, you may be eligible.

To register, you can go to FEMA.gov or call 1-800-621-FEMA.  Later there 
will be places to file in person.

FEMA Spokesman Ronnie Simpson says before the feds will pay anything, you 
have to file with your insurance.  FEMA picks up where insurance leaves 
off.  He also insists you keep all of your receipts.  Many insurance 
policies pay for hotel stays.

"If you don't have basic services... or if you had serious damage... we're 
going to work with folks to make sure they are taken care of," Simpson 
told WWL First News.

He says they are either making direct payments to hotels or paying 
reimbursements.

"You keep those receipts, and when it comes time to deal with FEMA in the 
next few weeks, the next a month or so, you present those for receipts for 
reimbursement,"  Simpson said.

When making a FEMA claim, be ready to provide a description of property 
damage, name, address, social security number and then they will get an 
inspector out to assess your home.  You will be given a new FEMA number. 
Do not use your Katrina FEMA number if you had one.

The FEMA assistance eligibility started Monday Sept. 1st.  Expenses before 
that are not eligible for repayment.

After your insurance has paid you, FEMA may pick up any additional cost of 
minor home repairs to make your residence inhabitable.

If you have more substantial repair costs, FEMA will refer you to the 
Small Business Administration for and SBA loan.  Despite the name, the 
agency does make personal loans to individuals.

FEMA can also assist in identifying other grants that may provide funding 
for immediate needs including clothing, personal hygiene, bedding and 
other items that you may have lost in the storm.

HUD may be able to provide rental assistance as well.   That applies when 
the damage to a home is so extensive that the owner can't live there 
during repairs.  That could be paid for up to a year and a half.

Other programs are designed to pay for medical expenses, car repairs, 
counseling, disaster unemployment (including for self employed 
individuals), legal assistance and mortgage assistance.

It all starts with going to FEMA.gov or calling 1-800-621-FEMA and getting 
your claim started.