FEMA Sends First Batch of Sandy Flood Insurance Claim Review Letters

If you're a homeowner who was flooded in Hurricane Sandy and filed a flood insurance claim, check your mailbox. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has started mailing out notifications to every homeowner with a Sandy-related claim, offering a fresh look at the facts — and, possibly, a modification of the award. The Asbury Park Press has a report (see: "Read FEMA's letter to "lowballed" Sandy policyholders," by Russ Zimmer).

Reports the paper: "'(FEMA's) National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is offering you the opportunity to have your Hurricane Sandy flood insurance file reviewed if you believe that we underpaid your claim,' the first line of the letter reads. The Asbury Park Press obtained a copy of the letter from FEMA. By mid-June, more than 140,000 letters will be mailed, with half going to New Jersey mailboxes. Receipt of the letter is not necessary to starting the review process, according to U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J."

A copy of the FEMA letter is posted here: ("Final Claims Review Process Policyholder Outreach Letter," posted by Asbury Park Press).

"The letters will go out by zip code," reports NJ.com (see: "FEMA letters offering to review Hurricane Sandy claims going out Monday," by Jonathan D. Salant). "Homeowners can either wait for the letter, call 866-337-4262 or download a form online to request a review They have 90 days from receipt of the letter to act, and FEMA expects to complete a review within 90 days."

FEMA's downloadable form to request a review is at this link (see: "National Flood Insurance Program Request for Review of Hurricane Sandy Claim Review File").