FEMA Home Inspection Part of Disaster Assistance Process

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – RealEstateRama – If you applied to FEMA and said you are unable to live in your home because of disaster damage caused by Hurricane Zeta, FEMA will contact you to set up a remote home inspection or an exterior-only inspection.

FEMA will contact you to set up a remote home inspection or an exterior-only inspection.

FEMA will ask you about the type and extent of damage. In some cases, FEMA will arrange to view the damage via a Zoom or Facetime video inspection, or the agency may assign an inspector to meet you outside the home, with social distancing, to view the damage from the exterior of the structure.

The FEMA inspection is part of the process to determine whether a home is safe, sanitary and functional. FEMA considers the following factors when determining whether an applicant may be eligible for assistance:

• The exterior of the home is structurally sound, including the doors, roof and windows.
• The electricity, gas, heat, plumbing and sewer or septic systems function properly.
• The interior’s habitable areas are structurally sound, including the ceiling and floors.
• The home is capable of functioning for its intended purpose.
• There is safe access to and from the home.

FEMA assistance is not the same as insurance. FEMA assistance only provides funds for basic work to make a home habitable, including toilets, a roof, critical utilities, windows and doors. For the inspection, if you need accommodation for language or disability, call 800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585) and let FEMA know of your needs.

Survivors with minimal damage who can live in their homes will not automatically be scheduled for a home inspection when applying to FEMA. However, they may request an inspection if they later find significant disaster-caused damage.

For more information about Hurricane Zeta recovery in Alabama, visit https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4573.