Floods, and the resulting flood damage, are some of the worst natural disasters imaginable. Floods can cause long term and sometimes irreparable damage to homes and life, and wreak havoc to entire communities. Global warming and other destruction to our environment have resulted in increasingly erratic and unpredictable weather patterns, resulting in never-before-imagined levels of disaster as well as costing the country billions in flood damage to homes and buildings. In 2002, Hurricane Andrew swept the USA. Then there was the multi-hurricane disaster in Florida in 2004. Hurricane Katrina, considered one of the worst natural disasters to hit the country in 2005, left thousands of people homeless and over $30 billion in insurance costs due to flood damage.



If you have ever suffered a disaster and need assistance of any kind such as for flood damage, the FEMA, or Federal Emergency Management Agency is the right government body to approach. The agency, established in 2003 as part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, is tasked with building and supporting the country's emergency management system. In a nutshell, its mission is to: "reduce the loss of life and property and protect the Nation from all hazards, including natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters, by leading and supporting the Nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation."

The FEMA works with the different states, communities, businesses and individuals to provide assistance during disasters, administer national flood and crime insurance programs, train emergency managers, coordinate federal response to a disaster, and teach people how to get through one.

It was directly involved in disaster recovery operations during the Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the four hurricanes that hit Southern Florida in 2004, Hurricane Andrew in 2002, as well as the California wildfires in 2007 and the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001. Aside from providing ground support for disaster recovery efforts, it also provides state and local governments with expertise and funding for rebuilding efforts, in conjunction with the Small Business Administration.

The FEMA also provides citizens with valuable information on how to prepare for an impending flood, as well as guidelines on what to do before, during and after a flood, with the intent of helping individuals and homeowners mitigate flood damage as well as danger to human safety.

Flood damage can be expensive, and in many cases can result in the complete loss of an entire home. In order to help citizens get back to normalcy after natural disasters such as floods, FEMA assists individuals and businesses with disaster assistance through low-interest loans that are meant to help defray the expenses brought about by flood damage. The agency offers two types of financial assistance - funds for housing needs, and funds for non-housing related needs.

Housing need disaster assistance can be used for temporary housing, and the repair or replacement of homes that are not covered by housing insurance. In certain cases, particularly for insular areas or remote locations where no other type of housing assistance is available, the FEMA provides funds for permanent housing construction.

Aside from housing need assistance, the FEMA also provides funding assistance for people and businesses whose property has been damaged or destroyed, and whose losses are not covered by insurance. Disaster-related non-housing funding assistance may be used for:

* disaster-related medical and dental costs;

* fuels for heating, oil and gas;

* cleanup equipment such as vacuum cleaners and dehumidifiers;

* clothing, household items, tools and educational materials;

* moving or storage expenses related to a disaster, where property such as furniture and the like are stored elsewhere while disaster-related repairs are being made to the home;

* disaster-related funeral and burial costs; disaster-damaged vehicles; and

* other expenses authorized by the law.

As part of its effort to help communities, businesses and individuals prepare for disasters, the FEMA provides access to disaster maps, such as flood maps and hurricane maps. These maps enable individuals and businesses to assess the flood hazards in their area and thus be better prepared against disasters.