Facts about FEMA

12/27/2018 (Permalink)

If a home is destroyed in a storm that is later declared a disaster by the federal government and grants are made available, claims still need to be made through the homeowner's primary insurance company.  Policyholders should understand that their home insurance is their primary source of coverage.  Fema only pays AFTER insurance.  When Superstorm Sandy hit the east coast in 2012, FEMA determined that there was enough damage to make an "individual assistance" declaration and they provided grants to homeowners to help them with temporary living expenditures such as finding food and shelter.  The grants were not intended to rebuild their homes.  The best practice is to review your insurance policy with your carrier on a yearly basis.  This way you'll be current on what your coverage contains as it relates to the area where you live.