How to apply for FEMA relief for storm-damaged wells, septic tanks, personal property

Buncombe, Haywood and Transylvania counties who have lost access to water through their private wells or who have had their sewage treatment plant damaged by Tropical Storm Fred may be eligible for FEMA Funding for Individuals and Households.

What kind of help is available? The following is information provided by FEMA:

For private wells and sewage treatment plants, FEMA may assist or reimburse the cost of a professional, licensed technician’s estimate to repair or replace these items.

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You can also get assistance with the actual cost of repair or replacement of these items, which is normally not covered by home insurance.

If you’ve applied for FEMA assistance and haven’t had a home inspection, you should call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. At the time of your inspection, let the FEMA inspector know that you have a private well and / or septic tank that may have been damaged by the storm.

If the damage is found to be caused by the disaster, you may be eligible for FEMA assistance.

If you’ve already had an inspection and no damage to the well or sewage system has been reported, contact the FEMA Helpline for instructions on how to amend your application.

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If your personal property has been damaged or destroyed by Tropical Storm Fred, FEMA can also provide financial assistance through the program’s other needs assistance to individuals and households.

The aid is intended to cover the basic needs of the household, not to restore all personal belongings to the state they were in before the disaster.

FEMA assistance in repairing and replacing personal property falls into the following categories:

  • Domestic appliances: Includes standard household appliances such as refrigerator, washing machine, etc.
  • Clothing: Necessary clothing that is required due to overall loss, damage, or contamination.
  • Room facilities: Standard equipment in bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and living room.
  • Essential tools: Tools and equipment required by an employer as a condition of employment and items required as a requirement for an applicant or household member’s education.
  • Accessible items: FEMA also provides assistance with damaged personal effects required for qualified applicants with disabilities.

Applicants must meet the following conditions to receive personal property assistance:

  • The item needs to be repaired or replaced due to a catastrophic damage.
  • The residents of the household have an unmet disaster-related need for the damaged item. FEMA cannot provide assistance if the applicant can meet those needs with another similar item in their possession or available to the household.
  • The item was owned and used by the residents of the household.

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FEMA does not provide assistance for furnishings and / or equipment provided by a rental company.

Items that are used by guests and relatives who did not belong to the household before the disaster are not eligible for funding.

Anyone who wants to apply for federal aid for damaged property can apply up to click here, call 800-621-3362 or with the FEMA app. The deadline for applying for FEMA assistance is November 8, 2021.

And if you want to learn more about flood relief or how you can help with disaster relief, Click here for the Haywood County’s online resource page, or Click here to donate to the Hope for Haywood Relief Fund.

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