FEMA inspectors, teams arriving soon

Housing inspectors and disaster survivor assistance teams from the Federal Emergency Management Agency will hit the streets soon in the eight Arkansas counties that have been approved for federal aid related to flooding along the Arkansas River.

The teams will be deployed to Conway, Crawford, Faulkner, Jefferson, Perry, Pulaski, Sebastian and Yell counties, where they will help connect disaster survivors with potential assistance.

Inspections will occur after people affected by flooding register with the agency. Homeowners and renters should make sure their contact information is up to date and have access to a telephone. They also will need to have a photo identification and proof of ownership or a lease.

Teams will go door to door in affected areas to answer questions about the types of help available, help people apply for state and federal assistance, update an applicant’s contact information and assist with referrals to community partners.

FEMA workers will carry official, laminated photo identification. Officials said FEMA shirts, hats and jackets do not make them official.

When an agency inspector arrives at a damaged home, the inspector will require verification of identity but will already have the homeowners’ registration number, so inspectors should not ask for it.

Neither FEMA nor Small Business Administration inspectors require banking information or payment in any form.