ATLANTA — The next step in the post-Hurricane Helene damage relief process for Georgians is underway .
The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced Wednesday that they’d started performing home inspections for those eligible to get assistance in the wake of the storm’s damage.
According to FEMA, “a home inspection may be necessary to help determine if an applicant is eligible for various types of assistance. Due to the number of counties impacted by the hurricane and the number of homes needing inspections, it may take time for an inspection to be scheduled.”
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Going forward, those who need their home inspected to determine assistance will be contacted by FEMA to schedule an appointment with an inspector.
When the inspector arrives, “they will already have the applicant’s FEMA application number. They carry photo identification and will show it to the applicant. For security reasons, federal identification may not be photographed or recorded.”
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For those in need, FEMA said they should know that inspectors will never ask for or accept money from residents, the work they do is a free service from the federal government.
In order to set up scheduled meetings for damage inspections, applicants will receive a call or text message to begin the setup process. FEMA said they’ll contact the phone numbers listed on the applications for assistance.
While the “communications may come from unfamiliar phone numbers, and it is important that applicants respond so their application can be processed.”
As far as the inspections themselves, here’s what FEMA looks at:
- The structural soundness of the home, both inside and outside.
- Whether the electrical, gas, heat, plumbing and sewer/septic systems are all in working order.
- Whether the home is safe to live in and can be entered and exited safely.
On average, the federal agency said inspections take about 45 minutes and that afterward, applicants should wait between a week and 10 days to get an update on their application status.
Georgians impacted by Hurricane Helene can request assistance online here or by calling 1-800-621-3362. Applications can also be submitted in person at a Disaster Recovery Center. Locations and hours can be found here.
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