FEMA Disaster Assistance Checklist

What this checklist is for

When the President declares a disaster for your area, FEMA may offer money to households through its Individuals and Households Program. This checklist walks you through the parts that homeowners most often get wrong: filing with your insurer first, gathering the right papers, handling the inspection, and appealing a decision you think is mistaken. It is written for people in the first weeks after a flood, storm, fire or similar event.

It does not tell you whether you qualify. Only FEMA decides that, and eligibility depends on the disaster, your home and your situation. Treat this as a way to be organized when you apply, not a prediction.

Why insurance comes first

FEMA describes the program as help for people with uninsured or under-insured necessary expenses and serious needs. Its own words are that the assistance is not a substitute for insurance and cannot compensate for all losses caused by a disaster. In plain terms, FEMA is built to fill gaps, not to pay for something your policy already pays for.

So the order matters. If you have a homeowners, renters or flood policy, report the loss to your insurer right away. FEMA's inspection page says to file an insurance claim without waiting for the inspection. Keep what your insurer sends you, because a denial or a partial payment letter becomes part of your record if you later disagree with FEMA. If you are not sure whether your damage is covered, the coverage checker can help you frame the question to ask.

What FEMA may help with

The program page lists several kinds of help: money for temporary housing while you cannot live at home, money toward repairing or replacing an owner-occupied primary residence, and money for other uninsured or under-insured disaster-caused needs. FEMA also points to related programs for survivors, such as disaster unemployment assistance, crisis counseling and disaster legal services. Ask about them when you apply.

Getting ready for the inspection

FEMA may send an inspector to verify the damage. The inspector records what they see. They do not decide whether you receive help. The visit may last up to 45 minutes, and it only happens when you or your co-applicant is present, unless you named a helper in writing ahead of time and FEMA approved that person.

Have photo identification, proof that you own or live in the home if asked, a list of the people who lived there when the disaster hit, your insurance policy and records of the damage. Photographs and video taken before cleanup do most of the work. The claim documentation checklist shows how to keep those records in order, and the storm walkthrough checklist gives a safe order for taking them.

Worked example: a flooded first floor

A homeowner's first floor takes on water in a river flood. She calls her insurer from a motel, gives the policy number and describes what happened. She learns that her homeowners policy does not pay for flood. She keeps the insurer's letter. Then she applies to FEMA, and writes down the date of each call in a log.

When the inspector comes, she is there with her driver's license, a utility bill showing her address, and a folder of photographs taken before she tore out the wet carpet. She walks the inspector room by room. A few weeks later the decision letter arrives with less than she needs. She writes a short letter explaining why, signs it, attaches her contractor estimates and the insurer's letter, and mails it with proof of sending, well inside the deadline.

If you disagree with the decision

FEMA says you can appeal within 60 days of receiving the decision letter. A mailed appeal has to be postmarked within that time, counted from the date on the letter. Explain in writing why you think the decision is wrong, sign it, and attach support such as contractor estimates and insurance denial letters. You can send the appeal online, bring it to a Disaster Recovery Center, or mail or fax it. Keep a copy of everything.

When to get more help

A FEMA decision is not a legal ruling, and this page is not legal advice. If you are stuck, FEMA lists disaster legal services among its programs, and your state insurance department can help with disputes about your insurer. For a settlement you think is too low, see the guide to public adjusters, appraisal and attorneys.

Next steps

• Gather and organize your records with the claim documentation checklist.
• Check whether your kind of damage is likely covered with Is my damage covered?.
• Walk the property safely with the storm damage walkthrough.
• Choose repair help carefully with the hiring a contractor checklist.