Hoboken Homeowners Affected By Sandy Can Appeal Their NFIP Claims

If you’re a Hoboken homeowner who may have been underpaid in their Hurricane Sandy claims with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), the case may not be closed just yet.

On Wednesday, Mayor Dawn Zimmer sent an advisory to residents, reminding homeowners that they have until Sept. 15 to file for a “review” with the NFIP.

Recently, FEMA sent letters to approximately 142,000 NFIP policyholders, including those in Hoboken, who filed claims resulting from Hurricane Sandy, offering them an opportunity to have their files reviewed.

Hoboken residents with basement (garden) apartments, along with condominium associations who filed claims are encouraged to file for a review, Zimmer stated in a release.

To be eligible for the review, policyholders must have experienced flood damage between Oct. 27, 2012 and Nov. 6, 2012 as a result of Hurricane Sandy.

Policyholders can call the NFIP’s Hurricane Sandy claims center at 1-866-337-4262 to request a review.

Alternately, policyholders can go online to www.fema.gov/hurricane-sandy-nfip-claims to download a form requesting a review. The downloaded form may be filled out and emailed to FEMA-sandyclaimsreview@fema.dhs.gov to start the review process.

For individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability using 711 or VRS, please call 866-337-4262. For individuals using a TTY, please call 800-462-7585 to begin the review process. Before contacting the claim center, policyholders are asked to have their flood insurance carrier name and policy number at hand.

FEMA will request the policyholder’s claim file from their insurance company and forward it to the NFIP review office within two business days. Files will be assigned to a highly skilled, NFIP-certified adjuster who will serve as a caseworker for the insured. The entire process should take less than 90 days. Caseworkers will contact policyholders to guide them through the review process.

Policyholders who have already registered for the Hurricane Sandy claims review do not need to take any additional action and can expect to be contacted by their caseworker.

Additionally, there are several nonprofit service providers ready to offer free advice and answer questions policyholders may have. A list of these advocacy groups can be found on the claims review website at www.fema.gov/sandyclaims.

File photo: Flood damage in Hoboken following Hurricane Sandy

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