Additional Assistance for Repair or Replacement of Damaged Wells, Furnaces, Bridges and Septic Systems May Be Provided by FEMA upon Appeal

By On Oct 23, 2021

Pennsylvania homeowners in Bedford, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia and York whose stoves, sewage treatment plants, bridges and / or wells were damaged by the remains of Hurricane between August 31, 2021 and September 5, 2021, Ida may be eligible for financial assistance under FEMA’s Individual and Household Program. Individuals found ineligible or given an initial amount for cleaning or testing have the right to request additional assistance up to the actual cost of repairing or replacing stoves, sewage treatment plants, bridges and wells in some cases.

What kind of help is available?

Survivors should register by calling 800-621-3362 (TTY: 800-462-7585). You can also register online at www.desasterassistance.gov.
For private wells and bridges, ovens and sewage treatment plants, FEMA may have provided applicants with an initial financial contribution to clean and / or inspect these items.
FEMA may be able to provide additional financial support for the actual cost of repairing or replacing those items that were previously functional but were damaged or destroyed by the disaster and are not covered by insurance.
An objection letter with verifiable estimates from the contractor or receipts for the repair or replacement of these items must be submitted to FEMA for review. The estimate or receipts must contain the telephone number of the contractor or service provider.

How can I file an objection?

You can appeal the decision of FEMA. Appeals must be submitted in writing within 60 days of the date FEMA wrote to determine eligibility.

Survivors of the damage caused by the remains of Hurricane Ida between August 31, 2021 and September 5, 2021 in Bedford, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia and York who have registered with FEMA may receive a decision letter about eligibility for assistance. Read the letter carefully. It can’t be the definitive answer. FEMA may only need additional information or documentation to process your application.

If you have any questions or want to discuss your eligibility status, call 800-621-3362 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. EDT daily. Help is available in most languages.

Applicants can appeal against a FEMA decision. To do this, you will need to provide supporting information along with a letter detailing the reason (or reasons) for your objection.

You should include your full name, FEMA application number and disaster number, primary residence address prior to the disaster, and current phone number and address on all documents submitted. The application and disaster number can be found on page 1 of your letter of assessment.

You can submit your objection and all related documents by:

Send your documents and your letter to the address below within 60 days of receiving your letter of assessment. Your letter and supporting documents must be postmarked by FEMA regarding your eligibility within 60 days of the date of your letter.
FEMA National Processing Service Center PO Box 10055 Hyattsville, MD 20782-7055
Upload your documentation online at desasterassistance.gov.
Fax your information at 800-827-8112.

If someone other than you or the co-applicant is writing the letter, you will need to sign a statement that they can act on your behalf. You should keep a copy of your appeal for your records.

In addition, it is important that FEMA has your current contact information, including addresses, phone numbers, and bank accounts. If FEMA does not have your correct contact information, you could miss letters or calls regarding your application, appeal, or payment status.

By filing an appeal, you are asking FEMA to review your case. If you have any questions, call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. TTY users can call 800-462-7585. The lines are open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. EDT.

For more informations:

Visit fema.gov/disaster/4618 or follow the FEMA Region 3 Twitter account at twitter.com/FEMAregion3.

For concerns and allegations of discrimination, please contact the Office of Equal Rights at headquarters at 202-212-3535 or [email protected].