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Understanding FEMA Assistance for Homeowners

Written by Basement Health Association on . Posted in Flooding, Homeowner Tips.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is the government relief program for the U.S.  Most people know FEMA as a household name but until your area is hit with a disaster where the damage is so widespread that it is declared a federal disaster (the declaration must come from the governor, a federal agency director or the President); you may not even be aware of the relief programs available.

Once a flood is declared a federal disaster area the government will open FEMA “teleregistration” with a toll-free number for you to call for assistance.  FEMA may also open one or more Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs).

DRCs will give information and take applications for assistance and are usually located in a nearby school or other public building. They will be open during the day and early evening for several days to give people time to come in. Your local new outlets should report locations and hours. In many cases, floods will destroy uninsured property causing losses and needs.  This creates a gap in coverage even if you have flood insurance. FEMA helps people with or without insurance.  If you don’t have insurance go to the DRC first.  If you do have insurance you should file a Proof of Loss form before visiting a DRC. There are six different types of assistance.

Temporary living assistance

The disaster assistance program may provide a safe place to live while you repair damaged homes. For those without insurance can apply for rent assistance or FEMA may provide mobile homes or other temporary living arrangements. If repairs can be done quickly to make your house liveable, the program may provide funds to make those repairs.

Low Interest Disaster Loans

If home-owners or business owners, farmers and others sustain major real estate and personal property damages, they may be eligible for low interest loans through the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Farmers Home Administration (FmHA). SBA and FmHA can provide loans even if there is no Presidential disaster declaration.

Like any traditional loan, interest rates and eligibility vary depending on income and financial condition of the applicant.

FEMA Grants

If you don’t get a SBA loan or if you do not have any other financial resource, you can apply for a grant to help with expenses and serious needs. Individual and family grants can cover immediate expenses such as medical treatment, transportation, home repair, replacement of essential personal items, and the cost of protecting your property from the flood.

Income Tax Deductions

If a federal disaster declaration was made, you might quality to file an amended tax return for the past year and get a partial refund for your uninsured casualty losses. Even if no federal declaration is made, you can often deduct your uninsured losses on your next income tax return.

“Floodproofing” Assistance

While restoring a building to its pre-flood condition is important, FEMA is now encouraging repairs and updates to include “floodproofing” to modify the structure to withstand damage from a future flood.   At BHA, our contractor members see thousands of properties a year damaged from major and minor flooding.  There are some homes where the basement floods every year because of the lack of the proper drainage system in the basement and/or the lack of gutters and outside drainage systems around the perimeter of the house.

If you lived through a flood and don’t want to deal with the flood clean-up again, the SBA’s Disaster Assistance Loan program can loan additional money to cover certain floodproofing costs.

Counseling

Another service FEMA provides after a disaster is crisis counseling.  It is important to cope with problems before they get out of hand.  The Red Cross, as a first responder, supplies information to help cope with the mental stress of living through a disaster.

Tips to Draining a Seriously Flooded Basement

Written by Basement Health Association on . Posted in Flooding, Homeowner Tips.

If your basement is flooded with more than just a couple of inches (we are talking a foot of water, here), don’t be in too big a hurry to pump it out.

Here’s why.

Water in the ground outside your home is pushing hard against the outside of your basement walls. But the water inside your basement is pushing right back.

If you drain your basement too quickly, the pressure outside the walls will be greater than the pres­sure inside the walls—and that may make the walls and floor crack and collapse, causing serious foundation damage.

To avoid this situation, follow these steps when you pump the water out of your basement:

After floodwaters are no longer on top of the ground, you can start pumping the water out of the basement. Do not use gasoline-powered pumps or gen­erators indoors because gasoline engines create deadly carbon monoxide exhaust fumes. Safety tip: Make sure the electricity to the house is turned off.

Pump the water level down 2 to 3 feet. Mark the level and wait overnight.

Check the water level the next day. If the water went back up, it’s still too early to try to drain the basement. Wait overnight again. Then pump the water down 2 to 3 feet again. Check the level the next day.

 When the water stops going back up, pump down another 2 to 3 feet and wait overnight. Re­peat steps 4 and 5 until all water is pumped out of the basement.

What To Do if My House Floods

Written by Basement Health Association on . Posted in Flooding.

A basement flood is one of a homeowner’s worst nightmares. At the Basement Health Association, we often talk about prevention when it comes to basement flooding. But what if it is too late to talk about waterproofing applications or those waterproofing systems fail in a serious disaster? The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) put together information packet about things to know and what to do if your home floods.

Be Careful Going Inside the First Time

If the door sticks and has to be forced open, it is probably swollen. If it only sticks at the bottom, it can be forced open. If it sticks at the top, your ceiling may be ready to fall. You can force the door open, but wait outside the doorway for a minute where you will be protected if something falls.

If the door won’t open easily, it may be easier for you to enter your home through a window. Look carefully at the ceiling before you go in to be sure it is not ready to fall. Do not smoke or use candles, gas lanterns, or other open flames in your home. Air out your home completely—there may be explosive gas.

Flood and Mud Clean-Up

The mud left behind by floodwaters contains most of the health hazards you will face. It is very important to get rid of the mud as soon as possible. This is a lot easier if it is done before the mud dries out.

Shovel out as much mud as possible. Check your water system for leaks from pipes that may have moved . Even if your water supply is not safe to drink, it can be used for cleaning the home. If you have water, hose the home down, inside and out. If you have an attachment that sprays soap, wash and then rinse the walls and floors. Hose the furniture and other major items that got muddy.

Heating and air conditioning ducts that got flooded will have mud left in them. If you don’t clean them out, your system will be blowing foul, dusty air that contains the same health hazards you are trying to get rid of. To clean the ducts, remove the vents or registers. If possible, remove some sections of the ducts in the basement or crawlspace to give you access to all areas. Then thoroughly hose out all the ducts.

While you hose the walls, thoroughly hose out the electrical outlet, switch boxes, and light sockets that you opened up.

After you hose out the duct work to remove the mud, wash it with a disinfectant or sanitizer.  If your ducts are in a slab or are otherwise inaccessible, have them cleaned by a professional.

Don’t let the water sit on the floor for long, especially if your floor has particle board or other wood product that tends to fall apart when wet. Use a mop, “wet vac,” or squeegee.

Potential Structural Damage

You need to find out whether there is any structural damage to your home. (You will probably need professional help in making this decision. See the Basement Health Pros search engine to find a structural repair contractor in your area.)

Is there evidence of broken or cracked basement or foundation walls? Are there broken pilings, shifted stairs, or slanted floors or walls? Any of these things could mean that the foundation, floors, or walls will have to be totally rebuilt. Repair safety hazards such as broken pilings or an undermined foundation before you proceed any further. Get professional help for any task you cannot confidently do yourself.

You will need a building permit to repair structural damage. Talk to your local building department before you start reconstruction or sign any repair contracts. If the damage to your home’s structure exceeds 50 percent of the market value of your home, most local building codes will require you to elevate it above flood levels. Some may not allow you to rebuild at all.

Use a Dehumidifier

Everything will dry more quickly and clean more easily if you can reduce the humidity in the home.  You can use heavy duty drying equipment and a high powered dehumidifier to reduce the humidity levels in your home.  You will need to properly dry out everything before you start repairing.  If you don’t dry things out properly, you will have a mold problem in the future.