Quote:
Originally Posted by Heartnsoul
Our friends are panicking and afraid of this hurricane heading toward glad. They are ready to evacuate. I. Haven't had news on so not sure how bad it will be. Anyone updated on this?
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Hurricane Advice:
During the hurricane you can send text msg to 32665 to your timeline to let others know u are safe without signing into Facebook or using a lot of phone battery.
Any water coming up from the ground into your house will not be covered by your homeowners insurance. If you have no Flood Insurance . . .
1. File ASAP with your homeowners.
2. Receive a denial notice.
3. Take denial and file with FEMA. Asap. You can't file until you have a denial letter from your homeowners insurance . If you have no insurance then just file immediately with FEMA
4. Take 1,000,000 pictures of the damage, including personal property and document everything. Put pictures in an elec file easily accessed by your email.
5. Start cleanup. (Sheetrock FIRST and drying house). Damaged personal property needs to be kept for view by the adjuster. You can toss Sheetrock flooring insulation but put on the side of the road in a pile for collection in a few weeks. DO NOT MAKE REPAIRS NO MATTER WHAT FEMA SAYS if you will need an SBA loan (fema loan is an SBA loan). If you won't need an SBA loan you can repair and save receipts (renting blowers/dryers, sprayers for bleach, etc count). SBA cannot approve loans on homes where even one thing has been added/replaced!! Note: you CAN replace personal property. Just cannot replace parts of the house.
6. When applying for fema, best to do at the office they will set up. Take all documents including loan papers deeds and proof of identity. You can bring your estimate of work to be done at that time if you want. If not just list things: 22" Sheetrock and insulation on 2200sf Home; wood flooring 2200sf, baseboards 110', 35' lower wooden cabinets etc. Then tell them you want to apply for an SBA loan there. The rep will be there. Have an idea of amount for building and for personal property. Have a list of damaged items.
7. The fema/SBA inspector will come to your place and you show them everything. At some point you might need a written estimate.
8. FEMA meantime will send you some money, prob for housing plus money to fix the basics, I.e. Sheetrock.
9. When they call you to finalize papers, be ready to file the documents yourself at the courthouse. It's easy and super cheap. Then you wait. Still you cannot make repairs. They'll call and tell you when it's approved.
10. SBA will approve you and dispense money in stages depending on your damage. You'll have to show receipts (from cleanup and replacing personal property counts too) where you've spent the fema money and then the SBA first portion before they release the next one. Keep your receipts. Good luck.
An SBA loan is a good loan. Around 1.5% in many cases. Also, if you do not have sand bags to prevent water from entering your house you can fill trash bags with water and tie them tightly which will work.
And don’t forget you have 40-50 gallons of fresh water in your hot water tank . . . . . good luck!