Tag Archives: #disasterrelief

Disaster Recovery Manual: A Self Help Guide to Receive the Most Disaster Funds is out now in bookstores!

As a 25-year veteran #FEMAinspector, I’ve heard this thousands of times, “I paid my insurance company for 40 years and never knew I wasn’t cover for this!” Don’t find yourself in a similar predicament when part or all of your personal property and home is destroyed by a disaster.

Disaster Recovery Manual: A Self Help Guide to Receive the Most Disaster Funds provides little known tips and tricks on how to receive assistance as fast as possible along with other information your insurance company doesn’t want you to know about. It also provides helpful information to assist you in choosing an insurance policy BEFORE a disaster occurs.

If you live in a disaster prone area, pick up a copy of this tell-all book that guides you through the process of handling FEMA and your insurance company after a disaster. It’s now available on Amazon.com, Smashwords.com, Apple, Barnes & Noble and other online bookstores.

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Second Edition of Dust in the Wind just released!

I’m grateful to all of the readers out there who purchased my first book. Now, due to its success, a second edition was just released last week that contains more photos than the original book. It can be purchased on this website, on Smashwords.com, Apple and in Barnes & Noble bookstores. Thanks to everyone for your support! Robert Winter

 

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Death & Taxes, FEMA & Fraud

When you’re saying your prayers during and after a disaster, don’t forget the part where it says, “lead us not into temptation.” It seems too many folks are led into temptation when it comes to thinking they can get more money out of the federal government in times of disaster. In my book,  I talk about ways people have tried to put one over on me and other inspectors. I also provide details about what you can and can’t use #FEMAfunds for. (Hint: You can’t use it to have a diamond embedded in your tooth.)

Don’t think you can get more money from FEMA by exaggerating the extent of your damages or working a deal with a CFI. Fraud from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita totaled more than one billion dollars. Even with the established penalties of a quarter-million dollars in fines, jail time, or both, fraudsters still take chances. Because of the enormity of the fraud in these hurricanes, the National Center for Disaster Fraud was started. This group relentlessly pursues open cases, and it may take them years but someone who made a fraudulent claim will be pursued to the greatest extent possible. You might not even know you’ve been discovered until you file annual income tax and receive a letter informing you that all future tax refunds are being withheld.

The fallout from Hurricane Sandy is still being painfully felt by New Yorkers who are being faced with demands for the return of their FEMA money. See more in this NY Post article from the last quarter of 2014.

And check out this NJ woman’s story.

Don’t find yourself delivered into evil. Fraud hurts everybody but no one worse than yourself.

God Bless America.

What Happens When States Can’t Afford to Call in FEMA?

femaclosedIn a true disaster, the governor of the state in which the disaster occurs will need to request federal help, and the President will need to declare a major disaster in the state and the county. This is the only way that residents of the area will be able to have any sort of disaster relief that comes from FEMA, even though they may have a number of local, county, and even state options for help right after the disaster takes place.

What Is a Disaster According to the Government?

It is important to remember that what you and your neighbors might consider a disaster might not meet the federal requirements for being an actual disaster. For the government to allow federal assistance from FEMA, the disaster must be serious and affect a large number of people. Some of the most recent examples of declared disasters include #HurricaneKatrina and Hurricane Sandy. Typically, a disaster, according to the government, happens when hundreds of homes are destroyed or damaged at the same time and a large number of people are displaced from their houses and apartments.

If your area or county can’t meet the requirements of the federal government when it comes to a disaster, then you simply won’t receive help from FEMA.

How Do You Prepare for a Disaster That FEMA Can’t Help?

Sometimes, you will be on your own, even though you and your neighbors might feel that you are living in a disaster area. Instead of waiting for something like this to happen and being at a loss, you should take steps to prepare. One of the best things to do is get high quality insurance for your property. Homeowners insurance is important, as is renters insurance for those who don’t own.

However, look at the fine print of what these policies will and will not cover. Make sure they are able to cover a range of different disasters and that they do not have loopholes for “Acts of God” and the like. Make sure it covers things such as flood, quake damage, wildfires, etc. Insurance isn’t the best answer; it’s the only answer if there is no government assistance.

Look at Local Programs for Some Help

When you don’t have anywhere else to turn after your home is gone and it looks as though FEMA help won’t be coming through, you can turn to local programs. Many times local charities and churches will set up temporary shelters and be able to provide clothing, food and a warm place to stay for those who need it. These can be real lifesavers. Celebrities4DisasterRelief.com is my new foundation to help disaster victims.

It might be a good idea to consider looking at some of the local programs set up in your neighborhood right now just to have a better idea of where to turn when you need help. You could also get to know your neighbors better, so you have a network of people in the area that can help one another when the chips are down. When the government is not there to help, we need to be able to be there for one another.

Keep in mind that sometimes help from the government just takes some time. It might be a few days or longer before they actually declare the area a disaster. If they do, then you will be eligible for help from FEMA. You can visit their site, call them, or talk with representatives who will likely be in the area about what you need to do to get assistance from them.