FEMA Offers Guidance on Identity Protection and Home Inspections
GHENT, WV — As West Virginia continues its recovery efforts following the devastating floods of February 2025, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is offering crucial advice on how residents can protect their identities and navigate the home inspection process. According to a recent press release, FEMA is urging individuals to remain vigilant against identity theft and fraud attempts often seen after natural disasters.
Protecting Your Identity
The agency warned that unscrupulous individuals may try to impersonate disaster relief workers or exploit personal information for fraudulent purposes. FEMA provided the following recommendations to help residents safeguard their identities:
- Beware of solicitations: Genuine federal and local disaster workers will never solicit or accept money from individuals. If someone offers financial or contracting aid and requests payment upfront, it’s likely a scam.
- Verify communications: FEMA will only contact individuals who have already initiated contact or registered for assistance. Be cautious of unsolicited phone calls or emails claiming to be from FEMA or other federal employees. To verify the legitimacy of suspicious communications, contact the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362.
- Always ask for identification: FEMA personnel will always have official identification badges. A FEMA shirt or jacket is not proof of identity. Do not disclose personal information, such as Social Security numbers or bank details, unless you are certain you are speaking with a verified FEMA representative.
- Protect your FEMA registration ID: Exercise extreme caution if someone requests your 9-digit FEMA registration ID, which is issued when applying for disaster assistance. FEMA inspectors may ask for the last four digits of your registration number for verification purposes, but will never request all nine digits.
- Stay informed: Keep up-to-date with local media for official updates on disaster fraud and scams.
Home Inspections
After applying for FEMA assistance, a home inspection may be necessary to assess disaster-related damage. FEMA provided these guidelines regarding the inspection process:
- Appointment scheduling: FEMA inspectors will always schedule appointments before visiting a home.
- Identification verification: Inspectors may verify identities using the last four digits of your 9-digit registration number, but will not ask for your full Social Security number.
- Contractor limitations: FEMA does not endorse or recommend specific contractors. Inspectors solely verify damage, they do not arrange repairs.
What to Expect During a Home Inspection
FEMA staff will contact applicants to discuss the damage and schedule an inspection within ten days of an application being filed. Be aware that the call may originate from an out-of-state number. Inspectors will attempt to contact an applicant three times over three different days. If they cannot reach the applicant after three attempts, the case will be closed until the contact FEMA again. FEMA will not arrive at a person’s home without prior arrangement.
Information needed for the inspection will include:
- FEMA application number (inspectors may ask for the last four digits).
- Photo identification.
- Proof of home ownership or occupancy at the time of the disaster (driver’s license, utility bill, lease, rent receipts, pay stubs, merchant statement, mortgage statement, tax bill or receipt, and insurance policy information).
- A list of all occupants living in the home at the time of the disaster.
- A detailed list of disaster-caused damage to both your home and personal property, along with supporting photos or videos.
- Insurance policy information.
Inspections take approximately 30 to 40 minutes. Providing photos or videos of the damage is encouraged. Inspectors will:
- Verify your name, address, contact information, and insurance details
- Confirm the names of everyone living in the damaged home, occupied bedrooms, damage to personal property, and items purchased as a result of the disaster.
- Assess the condition of structural, furniture, and appliances before the disaster, as well as any undamaged items.
- Document your pre-disaster residence’s square footage, foundation, and structural type (e.g., one or multiple stories).
- Record the cause of the damage, water levels, damaged utilities, and accessibility features.
- Confirm that all damage has been viewed.
- Explain the next steps in the FEMA process.
A letter or electronic correspondence will be provided within ten days after the home inspection. Carefully review the letter, as it will outline the next steps. Not all losses will require inspections. FEMA encourages individuals to regularly check their mail, their online FEMA account on the Disaster Assistance website, and to respond promptly to any FEMA requests.
Reporting Fraud
Report any instances of identity theft, scams, or fraud to:
- The toll-free Disaster Fraud Hotline at 1-866-720-5721.
- The Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud website.
- Local authorities.
For questions about home inspections, contact the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362.
