FEMA adapts to COVID, offers remote inspections to victims of Northern California wildfires
"We've done that with respect to the condition we're in, with the threat of COVID, understanding the risk that COVID brings and the concern people have for close interaction,"
It wasn't immediately clear how many county residents are applying for federal disaster relief, because
For example, the
The more recent Glass fire, meanwhile, was included in a group of conflagrations spread over 10
Neither
The Press Democrat reached two people whose homes were destroyed by the Glass fire, one a property owner and one a renter. Both said they were currently working to sort through claims with their private insurance companies and had not applied for
"We're still kind of in the early stages," said
Upon application, an affected resident will receive a
There are three ways to apply: by using
Before COVID, an agency inspector would often call an applicant within three days, said
"With people working virtually, it might take a week or so, because you don't have to wait for an inspector physically to come to your home," Suber said. "It might be a little speedier."
If the new protocol has benefits, the obvious risk is an easier path to fraud, whether it's a scheme to gain personal information from survivors or an attempt to overstate fire damage to the government.
The federal agency may ask for supporting evidence in the form of photographs or receipts, all submitted online. Fenton noted that
"You must have proof of residence, or ownership," she said. "Not to say fraud can't happen. But all the things you need for
The remote inspections may end up being part of the 2020 time capsule with other oddities like toilet paper shortages and evening group screams. But it's hard to imagine
"Each year we say it's unprecedented,"
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