Louisiana Injury Lawyers Blog
On August 29, 2021, Hurricane Ida ripped through southeast Louisiana as a Category 4 storm causing mass destruction and leaving communities completely devastated. Ida’s powerful winds and heavy rain resulted in many Louisianians being left without power, water, and even homes.
After such a devastating storm like Hurricane Ida, Louisiana residents are eager to start rebuilding and resume normal life. Homeowners who carry private insurance should first file a claim with their insurance company for any disaster-caused damage.
Once the homeowner makes a claim, the insurance company will send an adjuster out to assess damages. It is certain that the adjuster will ask for proof of damage, so it is crucial to have photographs and documentation. Check out our Hurricane Damage Checklist for documenting all of your losses.
But, what if your insurance does not cover your entire claim? Will FEMA pay for any uncovered portion of homeowner’s claims?
Fortunately, FEMA (The Federal Emergency Management Agency) may step in and provide assistance for items not covered by private insurance for homeowners and renters. FEMA cannot cover losses already taken care of by your insurance as this would be illegal insurance fraud. However, federal assistance is available if a claimant is uninsured or underinsured.
FEMA assistance is not the same as homeowner’s insurance. Unlike private homeowner’s insurance, FEMA will not make you whole again. It will simply provide basic aid to make your home safe, sanitary, and functional. Aid may include home repair, replace lost items, temporary housing assistance, lodging reimbursement, etc.
If you plan to apply for federal assistance, make sure to have the following information available:
• A current phone number where you may be contacted;
• Your home address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are staying now;
• Your Social Security number;
• A general list of damages and losses; and
• The policy number or the agent and/or the company name, if insured.
Those eligible for FEMA aid include residents of the following parishes: Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Washington, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana Parishes.
If you or someone you love has been impacted by Hurricane Ida, call us today for a free consultation! PHONE CARDONE at 504-522-3333, 833-597-1818 (toll-free), 225-706-3920 (Baton Rouge office), or email us at c@phonecardone.com.