Reimbursement for Damage to Wells and Septic Systems from Severe Storms in August

WITH WINTER APPROACHING, RESIDENTS IN MIDDLE TENNESSEE WHO APPLIED TO FEMA FOR THE SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING ON AUG. 21 MAY BE JUST NOTICING DISASTER DAMAGE TO THEIR FURNACES AND WATER HEATERS. OTHERS MAY HAVE NOTICED ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO WELLS AND SEPTIC SYSTEMS. SURVIVORS WHO MISSED DAMAGE TO THESE SYSTEMS AFTER THE DISASTER, MAY FOLLOW UP WITH FEMA TO LEARN WHETHER THEY MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COST OF REPAIRING OR REPLACING THESE ITEMS.

TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS REIMBURSEMENT RESIDENTS MUST HAVE ALREADY REGISTERED WITH FEMA BY THE OCT. 25 DEADLINE. SURVIVORS MUST THEN FILE AN APPEAL AND PROVIDE ESTIMATES OR RECEIPTS FROM A LICENSED CONTRACTOR. IF YOUR INSURANCE COVERED REPAIR OF THE UTILITIES, BY LAW FEMA CANNOT DUPLICATE BENEFITS.

FEMA MAY ALSO PROVIDE REIMBURSEMENT FOR MITIGATION MEASURES TO KEEP FURNACES AND WATER HEATERS SAFE, SANITARY AND FUNCTIONAL IN THE FUTURE. THESE MEASURES ARE LIMITED TO COMPONENTS THAT WERE DAMAGED BY THE DISASTER AND FUNCTIONING BEFORE IT OCCURRED.

MITIGATION MEASURES INCLUDE ELEVATING A FURNACE OR WATER HEATER ABOVE THE FLOOR TO HELP REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF FUTURE FLOOD DAMAGE. FEMA RECOMMENDS ELEVATING A FURNACE OR WATER HEATER ON A FRAMED PLATFORM. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON TECHNIQUES FOR ELEVATING A FURNACE OR WATER HEATER, REFER TO CHAPTER NINE IN FEMA’S HOMEOWNER’S GUIDE TO RETROFITTING 3RD EDITION (2014).

BEFORE ELEVATING A FURNACE OR WATER HEATER, HOMEOWNERS SHOULD CHECK THEIR LOCAL UTILITY COMPANY AND BUILDING CODES TO FIND OUT WHETHER ANY REQUIREMENTS MIGHT LIMIT ELEVATION.

THOSE WHO HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT ELIGIBILITY FOR THESE REPAIRS AND FILING AN APPEAL CAN CALL FEMA’S HELPLINE AT 800-621-3362 OR (TTY) 800-462-7585

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