What To Do When Insurance Falls Short

6/27/2022 (Permalink)

What to Do If Insurance Is Insufficient

If you live in an area that is prone to flooding, you probably have flood insurance. Ideally, this policy covers all your expenses when you need them. If a major disaster occurs in West Hollywood, CA, however, you may have needs that your coverage doesn’t quite meet. In these instances, you can apply for a FEMA grant.

What a Grant Can Cover

There are several types of emergency grants for which you can apply when you need disaster relief. These grants may cover expenses such as:

• Property damage not covered by insurance
  
• Medical expenses
  
• Temporary housing
  
• Emergency repairs
  
  

If you qualify for a grant, it does not have to be repaid, so you don’t have to worry about finding a way to come up with the money. While grants are not designed to replace flood insurance, they can help fill in the gaps.

What a Grant Doesn’t Cover

FEMA grants are intended to serve those who need them most. They are most commonly sought by people who live near a flood plain or other disaster-prone area. Although people of any income can apply for grants, those that pay for expenses such as repairs to personal property or moving expenses are awarded on the basis of income. You can apply for a grant even after flood mitigation specialists have already started the repairs on your home. Providing pictures of the damage before restoration began, however, may speed up the processing of your application.

Even if you have flood insurance, it doesn’t always cover all the expenses that come up when a major disaster strikes the area where you live. You may spend all your savings on your deductible and have nothing left for a place to stay while mitigation is in process. Government grants are designed to help you get the assistance you need without having to worry about paying the money back.