The wait to get help from FEMA and insurance companies

Reporter: Amy Oshier Writer: Paul Dolan
Published:
FEMA
A couple waiting on damage inspections from insurance companies. (CREDIT: WINK News)

There are several steps you have to take to get help from FEMA. First, you apply on disasterassistance.gov, and depending on your situation, a representative will come to your home to check out the damage.

Insurance companies are already approaching a crisis point with what is happening in Florida.

Then, with thousands of claims likely coming in the wake of Hurricane Ian, the companies are reaching a tipping point. This is all happening while at the same time residents are at a breaking point.

Near the Caloosahatchee River, Holly Raven lives with her partner Liz. They live in a home nearly 100 years old, but Hurricane Ian made a mess of the place.

“The storm surge came up, what came in our house managed to stay at three or four feet. All of our furniture rocked back and forth here,” Holly said.

Like many coastal homeowners, they have insurance from several carriers. They have FEMA for flood and Citizens for wind while they wait.

While Holly and Liz wait for the damage inspection the home just sits there waiting with them.

“Our insurance companies have been mostly unreachable,” Holly said.

The couple opened claims quickly after Ian passed, and were advised to leave everything as is, other than protecting it from further damage.

But, patience is beginning to wear thin as days have now become weeks.

“We are not gonna wait for FEMA or our flood insurance that we’ve paid thousands and thousands of dollars for, or our Citizens home insurance. We are not going to wait for them! They keep promising … nothing,” Holly said.

Damage inspectors from FEMA and Citizens take pictures and measurements, these are then documented and that report determines reimbursement.

Because some damage, like wind, can be difficult to determine if it was the root cause of damage, this can take time.

“So it’s hard to tell what came first, but I’m pretty sure the storm surge,” Holly said.

While Holly and Liz wait alongside their damaged home for the inspection, they can only hope that good days are closer than they appear.

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