Inspectors contracted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are making great progress toward completing inspections of Texas homes damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Ike. To date they have completed more than 350,000 inspections, or 97 percent of the requests submitted by homeowners and renters. Damage inspections are free and generally take 30 to 45 minutes. They are conducted by FEMA contract inspectors who have construction and/or appraisal expertise and receive disaster-specific training. Each inspector wears official photo identification.
Inspectors document the damage but do not determine the resident's eligibility for disaster assistance. They check for damage to the building structure and its systems, major appliances and any damaged septic systems and wells. Residents should tell the inspector about other important losses such as clothing, medical equipment, tools needed for a trade and educational materials. Inspectors then relay this information to FEMA.
Disaster assistance may include grants to help pay for temporary housing, essential home repairs or other serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance or other sources.
Applicants are reminded to keep the contact information on their applications current so an inspector can reach them. To update their information, applicants should call FEMA's Helpline, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585.
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