JIC Recovery Release No. 116 - Guam Residents May Still Have Time to Appeal a FEMA Decision - GHS OCD

Guam Residents May Still Have Time to Appeal a FEMA Decision

Those who applied for disaster assistance due to damages from Typhoon Mawar may still have time to appeal their initial FEMA decision. If you received a letter from FEMA saying that the information you provided is incomplete, or that you are ineligible for disaster assistance, you have the right to appeal the decision within 60 days of the date on the letter.

An appeal is a written request to review your file again and consider any additional information you’ve provided that may affect the decision. If it has been longer than sixty days since you received your decision letter, please include why your appeal is late.

Your FEMA letter tells you why your request for disaster assistance was denied. It could be because of something as simple as missing information. Providing the necessary information or documentation may help you qualify for a FEMA grant. If you don’t agree with the amount of the grant you received, providing receipts or written quotes showing you had additional damage may allow you to receive a larger grant.

Writing your letter

An appeal must be filed in the form of a signed letter from the applicant, within 60 days of the date on the decision letter. Be sure to include the following in an appeal:

· Explanation of why you disagree with FEMA’s decision.

· Your nine-digit registration number (printed on every page.)

· FEMA disaster declaration number – DR-4715 (printed on every page.)

· Don’t forget to sign and date your letter.

· Include any information requested by FEMA and supporting documentation.

FEMA will review your appeal and any documentation you have provided to make a new

determination within 90 days. Sometimes another inspection will be conducted, if a second

inspection is required it may be conducted by a different inspector. If more information is

needed, FEMA will contact you.

Once the appeal has been reviewed a determination will be made on your appeal. If someone else files the appeal for you, you must also submit a signed statement giving that person authority to represent you.

For more information on the FEMA appeals process, including instructions in American Sign Language, watch the video series FEMA Answers: Questions on the Appeals Process.

How to send your appeal letter and documents

You can set up a FEMA online account and upload documents online. Visit Disasterassistance.gov, click on “Check Your Application and Log In” and follow the directions.

You can also send your letter via mail to:

Appeals Officer

National Processing Service Center

P.O. Box 10055

Hyattsville, MD 20782-7055

Finally, you can fax your letter to 800-827-8112 with a cover sheet addressed to: Attention - FEMA Appeals Officer.

Visit the following links for the latest information:

Governor’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/govlouguam
GHS/OCD Website: https://ghs.guam.gov/
GHS/OCD Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GHSOCD/

For more information, contact the Joint Information Center at (671) 478-0208/09/10.

X Flooding is a temporary overflowing of water onto land that is normally dry. Flooding may happen with only a few inches of water, or it may cover a house to the rooftop. There are many possible causes of floods including heavy rain, coastal storms and storm surge, waterway overflow from being blocked with debris, or overflow of levees, dams, or waste water systems. Flooding can occur slowly over many days or happen very quickly with little or no warning, called flash floods.

To learn more, visit https://www.ready.gov/floods

Wildfire

Regularly clean the roof and gutters.
Maintain an area approximately 30’ away from you home that is free of anything that will burn, such as wood piles, dried leaves, newspapers and other brush.
Connect garden hoses long enough to reach any area of the home and fill garbage cans, tubs, or other large containers with water.
Review your homeowner's insurance policy and also prepare/update a list of your home's contents.

Fire Weather

Turn on your TV/radio. You’ll get the latest weather updates and emergency instructions.
Know where to go. If you are ordered to evacuate, know the route to take and have plan of where you will go. Check-in with your friends and family.
Keep your car fueled, in good condition, and stocked with emergency supplies and a change of clothes.

Drought

Conserve water

Take shorter showers.

Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving.
Run the washer less frequently and only when you have a full load.
Water your lawn less frequently and do so when the temperature is cooler in the early morning or late evening.
When you run the tap to heat or cool water, keep a pitcher to store the water and use it to water plants.
Avoid washing your car.

Practice fire prevention

Don't set off fireworks when conditions are dry.
Deposit cigarette butts in the proper receptacle to avoid starting a
Pour water over camp fires and backyard fire pits to ensure they are completely out before leaving them unattended.

Follow directions from local officials. If there are restrictions on water usage, be sure to heed them.

To learn more, visit https://www.ready.gov/wildfires and https://www.ready.gov/drought

X
Typhoons/Hurricanes are massive storm systems that form over the water and move toward land. Threats from typhoons/hurricanes include high winds, heavy rainfall, storm surge, coastal and inland flooding, and rip currents.

“Hurricanes” form in the Atlantic Northeast Pacific region and “Typhoons” form in the Northwest Pacific Region. These large storms are call cyclones in other parts of the world.

To learn more, visit https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes.

JIC Recovery Release No. 116 - Guam Residents May Still Have Time to Appeal a FEMA Decision