Nearly three months after the January floods, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is providing more than just monetary assistance to flood victims.
Mountain View area home improvement stores have experts on hand to provide advice on flood damage repair and prevention for do-it-yourselfers.
why is it important
FEMA Mitigation Director Jack Mr Sinnott said many flood victims would try to make repairs themselves.
“Using a contractor is very expensive,” Sinnott said.
He said the Home Depot locations will allow FEMA officials to direct people to the supplies they need, whether their homes have been damaged or people want to protect their property in case another flood occurs.
“We can talk to a lot of people who weren't affected by this event, but who might be affected by the next event,” Sinnott said. And if they're rebuilding and trying to rebuild a little bit stronger and a little bit smarter. ”
In terms of numbers
Mr Sinnott said he and his team had consulted with 14 flood victims about how to repair their homes.
To date, FEMA has approved more than $8.3 million in grants for home repairs and essential household equipment replacements. The average grant is $8,842.
FEMA also approved $3.6 million in grants to help replace lost personal property and other needs.
And FEMA approved $8.2 million in rental assistance grants to cover temporary rental costs if the home becomes uninhabitable.
look carefully
Sinnott gave the example of building smarter to prevent water damage to outdoor air conditioning equipment on concrete slabs.
“Think about raising it a few feet. That way, if you attend your next event, you'll at least save money on your air conditioning unit,” Sinnott said.
Looking to the future
Advice from the FEMA Mitigation Team is free and no appointment is required. Their experts will be resident at His Depot, Home of His Avenue Marketplace, until April 18th.
FEMA is accepting applications for disaster assistance until April 19th.