Some questions being asked include:
Q: Did you have to sign up on that state Web site during the ice storm in order to get this individual assistance, if it’s granted by FEMA?
A: People could still make application for assistance, even if they did not initially report damages. Those initial reports were used only to bolster Oklahoma’s application for individual assistance.
Q: What would the process be to apply and how long will people have to sign up?
A: People could make application by calling a toll-free number provided by FEMA that would be announced through the media, or file an online application with FEMA. A sign-up period would be designated by FEMA.
Q: What if a tree fell on my house and damaged it, and I don’t have any insurance to cover the damage?
A: Damage caused to a home because of a falling tree could be eligible for assistance. FEMA would provide assistance to make a home “safe, sanitary and functional.” But FEMA is not an insurance company. People whose homeowners insurance provided reimbursement would not be eligible for FEMA assistance.
Q: What if it was my neighbor’s tree that fell on my house, or what if my tree fell onto a neighbor’s house?
A: Damages to a home would be considered whether it was the individual’s tree or a neighbor’s tree.
Q: Can I get reimbursement for the “deductible” that I had to pay out before my insurance kicked in?
A: It is possible to obtain assistance for such things as a deductible that a person would have to pay. First, however, the person would have to apply with FEMA for a low-interest loan, and if they qualified, this would be the means. Only if a person could not qualify for one of the loans would they be given a grant.
Q: What if trees fell on my property but didn’t damage anything and I paid to have them removed? Could I be re imbursed for that cost?
A: Ashwood said Oklahoma is trying to get tree removal costs eligible for individual assistance. Not removing this heavy amount of debris could be unsafe because it would make the state susceptible to wildfires. “We consider it a health and safety issue,” he said.
Q: If I’m on a ventilator or some other life-saving medical equipment and the power goes out, will FEMA pay for a hotel? What about hotels for anyone who lost power?
A: First, people would have to make use of available shelter. If it were a case where a hotel was necessary in order to operate this life-saving medical equipment, FEMA would consider whether the lodging expense would be eligible. Some insurance policies already cover alternate lodging.
Q: What about lost food?
A: Food lost because of a power outage is not eligible.
Q: If I couldn’t work because of the storm, will FEMA pay for my lost wages?
A: Those who suffered lost wages can get help through a federal disaster unemployment assistance program administered by the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission. If a businessperson could not operate a business and pay employees because of a storm, assistance could be available through an economic business grant. Both of these requests also could be made through a FEMA phone call or online.
Q: Are there any cases that FEMA will reimburse for generator purchases or rental?
A: Reimbursement for a generator is possible only if the generator was needed for a medical condition, such as operating an oxygen machine or possibly storing insulin in a refrigerator. Several years ago, reimbursement for generators and chain saws was possible, but that is no longer the case.
Source: Tulsa World