With all the news about major disasters declared by President Obama throughout the United States, there are people ready to jump on the opportunity to take advantage of those most in need. As a result, FEMA offered tips on avoiding and reporting fraud for those recovering from flood damage.
Avoiding Scams
Always see ID. If someone comes to your home and states they are with FEMA or with the Small Business Administration (SBA), ask to see their ID if it is not immediately presented to you. Asking to see identification will not offend government workers as they are expected to present or be asked for ID. Those who are not willing to present ID, are reluctant to do so or act like it is a hassle are most likely not with FEMA or the SBA. FEMA states on their website, “Inspectors sent by FEMA or verifiers from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) carry official, laminated photo identification. Applicants may receive a visit from more than one inspector or verifier.”
Do not give out or show personal information. FEMA inspectors will never ask you for your personal information such as a social security number, bank account information and so on. If you are asked about wet documents, such as a business documents or social security cards, do not show them to anyone except a reputable restoration professional you personally hired that specializes in drying wet documents and wet books. If a government representative or a person claiming to be a contractor asks you for this, they are not legitimately conducting business with your best interests in mind. The only time you will be asked for personal information by FEMA is when you register with the agency for emergency assistance. After that, representatives will only ask for the last four digits of your SSN.
Only use licensed and insured contractors. All legitimate contractors have a licensed through a state contractor’s board and carry their own insurance. Ask for proof of insurance before a contractor begins any work, get all estimates and contracts in writing and read all the fine print before signing on the dotted line. Also, keep this fact from FEMA in mind: “FEMA inspectors do not hire or endorse specific contractors to repair damage.”
Reporting Fraud
Report fraud or suspected fraud to the Disaster Fraud Hotline: 800-323-8603.
Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-FEMA (3362) if you question the validity of a person’s identity that has called or visited you.
A week of heavy rains in Rhode Island caused major floods and a crisis to retail stores and business. The Warwick Mall, its 70 stores, and stores in the surrounding area are closed for business indefinitely. The mall’s website states on its homepage:
“…The cleaning process has begun and we will re-open as soon as we can. Stay tuned for the future Grand Re-Opening of the Warwick Mall.
Store managers will be granted access to their space accompanied by their cleaning contractors beginning Monday, April 5th, to retrieve any valuables. Please check-in at our temporary office at RI Costume. Only 1-2 managers per store will be allowed access at the same time and access will be granted one time only. Please wear boots (ankle coverage). Picture I.D. required. Phone is 739-7500 or 739-8880.”
“The Providence Journal” reports clean-up efforts could take several weeks to months, especially in the area of Bald Hill Road, and it could take just as long to know to total cost of all the damages the state has suffered. However, the national retail chains affected by the floodwaters are well prepared for such disastersas this as they often have flood insurance to cover their losses, and have established business continuity plans. The publication adds:
“After the water retreats and the area is sanitized, equipment must be checked, owners must obtain building permits and rebuild damaged areas, while the Health Department must sign off on inspections. Backlogs are a dreary inevitability.”
Business owners effected by the recent Rhode Island floods, in order to ensure a successful recovery, should immediately contact a disaster recovery service, repair equipment, recover data, and secure cash flow through a business continuity plan.
Local natural and manmade disasters can cause great devastation when they happen. You can help reduce the affect of these disasters by getting involved in your city’s or county’s disaster planning efforts. Some states, like California and New York, have websites where communities can get involved in planning for a variety of local disasters. Check out your city or counties website to see how you can get involved, or call your local city hall or Red Cross. These places will be able to give you information on how your city or county will need help during a local disaster.
When there is a disaster, a community typically needs assistance with the following:
Redirecting Traffic. If there is loss of power to a city or there has been a natural disaster, the roads are often the first to suffer. Directing traffic can help relieve congestion and redirect people to alternate routes.
Phone tree. Operating a phone tree in a disaster helps get vital information to those who need it.
Disaster command center. The coordination of agencies involved in providing aid to a distraught area can be strenuous for just a few people to do; that’s why volunteering to help at a command center can help relieve stress and as you provide another brain that knows what’s going on. Assistance can take on the form of helping run an information booth to helping with emergency shelter services, and more.
CPR & First Aid. Learning CPR and first aid techniques can help you know how to provide immediate life-saving acts until more help arrives.
Volunteer Coordination and Preparation. Volunteer coordinators help recruit able bodies to assist in areas such as outreach to the community about preparedness, clean-up, to helping hand out essential items to those in need. Volunteers help speed the recovery effort.
It is possible that first responders will use robots in the near future. The hope is that the robots can be sent in to survey scenes without using up precious time or putting lives at risk unnecessarily. Robots could enter areas that are contaminated and/or structurally unsound.
The military, police and fire departments, search and rescue teams, and many other agencies already use robots. It is only natural that first responders use this type of technology.
Texas Task Force 1 Director, Bob McKee, states: “I feel strongly that robots will be a valuable asset in the near future for search and rescue teams from around the world. They have tangible benefits that can supplement rescuers.
…Robots are going to be an extension of the emergency responder. You can never take the person out of the response. The understanding, the training and the feeling that comes from a human can’t be duplicated. These robots are going to be able to extend our skill further into rubble piles. They are going to be able to provide better surveillance and sensors to us overhead, and they are going to help responders stay safe themselves.”
