FEMA Funds, Insurance to Give Some Relief in Oklahoma
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Brett Deering/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — Even for those who don’t lose a loved one after a tornado, the process to rebuild is “long” and “emotional,” according to Tammy Cady, 59, who survived the tornado that hit Joplin, Mo., on May 22, 2011.
It took Cady, a graphic designer, and her husband, Kevin, 52, a year and eight months to rebuild their destroyed home in Joplin.
Fortunately for the Cady family, no one was injured, including their six children. But when the tornado hit, they had no homeowner’s insurance for the home they bought in 1994. They had dropped their $50-a-month policy in 2010, after Kevin lost his job in construction.
“I think the worst part, especially at the beginning, is feeling helpless. I wasn’t necessarily feeling helpless for ourselves, but I felt helpless for other people,” Cady said. “That’s how I feel right now. The only thing that carried us through, from every moment of that time, was knowing that God was helping us. He was definitely looking out for us. He has provided for us every step of the way. It makes me feel sad to the lost but also blessed to know we are taken care of.”
After a devastating tornado hit Oklahoma on Monday, U.S. residents are mourning the loss of 24 people, including nine children.
“I can’t imagine for people who lose family. I didn’t lose anyone in our tornado. I’m really thankful for that,” Cady said.
The government has more than $11 billion in its disaster relief fund, which may be enough for victims in the suburb of Moore, Okla., outside Oklahoma City.
The costliest U.S. tornado was the one that hit Joplin, which did about $2.8 billion in damage. There were 158 deaths as a result of that disaster.
Judith Spry, partner in the insurance claims services practice at BDO Consulting, said insurance companies have already started to send their people to Moore.
Spry said normal homeowners insurance would cover fire and windstorms. Tornados typically do not require separate policies, like flood insurance.
Record-keeping and paperwork will be important for homeowners and small businesses during the recovery process. Spry said accountants and banks may be able to assist with certain records if they have been destroyed by the tornado.
Loretta Worters, vice president of the Insurance Information Institute, said it could take weeks to calculate the number of insured losses and claims from Monday’s tornado.
Worters said homeowner’s insurance policies also provide for additional living expenses to support the cost of living away from home if you cannot inhabit your house due to damage from an insured disaster.
“It covers hotel bills, restaurant meals and other living expenses incurred while your home is being rebuilt. So this will be a great help to homeowners whose homes have been destroyed by the tornado,” Worters said.
Car damage is covered under the optional comprehensive portion of a standard auto insurance policy.
Three out of four U.S. drivers choose to purchase comprehensive coverage, Worters said.
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