FEMA's debunking Harvey rumors, but there's more to know
Disasters seem to breed all types of rumors, tricks and scams, and Tropical Storm Harvey is no exception.
People have impersonated federal agents and tried to make money off insurance scams amid the storm and its aftermath, according to the new "Hurricane Harvey Rumor Control" page on FEMA's website.
The site says it has affirmed or debunked several rumors since at least Aug. 27.
SEE ALSO:Tropical Storm Harvey is the strongest to hit the US in 12 yearsThe new page aims to clear up rumors about whether FEMA charges for "damage inspections" (they don't), what paid assistance FEMA is looking for, and more.
The information is helpful, but some of the claims on the site could do with just a little more context. We've taken a deeper look at a select few of the rumors FEMA called out on its site, below.
The flood insurance deadline
On its rumor-control page, FEMA says this:
"There are reports individuals must file a flood insurance claim before Friday, September 1 because a new Texas law goes into effect that day and all claims filed after Sept. 1 would be negatively impacted. This rumor is FALSE."
Flood insurance provided by the National Flood Insurance Program won't be affected by the change in Texas law, according to the site as well as a FEMA spokesperson.
But Harvey victims need more explanation to fully grasp the concern. Individuals filing a post-Harvey property damage claim with a private insurance company may have actually wanted to do whatever they could to file before Sept. 1.
House Bill 1774 goes into effect on Sept. 1, and it reportedly forces certain Texas insurance policyholders to provide more information when they give notice about filing a lawsuit against a private insurance company that individuals feel has withheld claim money or taken too long to pay up. The law, intended to prevent frivolous lawsuits, essentially heightens the hurdles for filing a lawsuit for claims made after Sept. 1. The law also reduces the penalty interest paid by insurance companies.
Texas Congressman Joaquin Castro has even urged residents to get their claims in before Sept. 1.
Tweet may have been deleted
Tweet may have been deleted
However, Stephanie Goodman, the deputy commissioner for public affairs at the Texas Department of Insurance, said the new law "won't affect most Harvey claims because it doesn't apply to flood or windstorm policies, and only a small percentage of homeowners claims end up in a lawsuit."
The deportation of undocumented immigrants seeking shelter
"There are rumors undocumented immigrants cannot go to a shelter because they will be reported to ICE or CBP. This is false," FEMA's site says unequivocally.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the City of Houston all have said they won't deport undocumented immigrants who seek refuge from Harvey in area shelters.
Tweet may have been deleted
That may prove to be true, but it's worth noting that ICE has viciously pursued undocumented immigrants under President Donald Trump. Those optics and the fact that ICE/CBP also said the agencies would keep immigration checkpoints open as Harvey approached caused an outpouring of concern that undocumented immigrants would risk riding out the storm rather than seek shelter elsewhere. Government officials may have promised no consequences for undocumented immigrants seeking shelter, but the fact that the immigration checkpoints remained open caused many to worry about the mixed messaging.
A reminder that Texas Border Patrol did not shut down immigration checkpoints which could potentially get people killed during the Hurricane https://t.co/glggHm8Ycv
— X (@XLNB) August 26, 2017
Tweet may have been deleted
Tweet may have been deleted
Fake agents
FEMA warns site visitors to watch out for fake government agents in Harvey's wake, and says it's "true" that people have impersonated "Homeland Security Investigations" agents.
Here's what FEMA says residents should do to identify real government officers and agents:
Real Homeland Security Investigations officials wear badges labeled "special agent," which members of the public can ask to see and verify. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers with Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) also wear badges labeled with ERO Officer. They also carry credentials with their name and organization. Members of the public who receive such visitors should ask to see these properly labeled badges, and their credentials.
The rumor page advises residents to be wary of calls and people walking around asking you to sign anything. "Ask for identification," the website says, and "don't sign anything you don't understand or contracts with blank spaces."
If southeast Texans have suspicions about any insurance calls they've received or services they've been offered in the aftermath of the storm, the website seems worth checking out.
Some of its claims just need to be taken in a broader context.
Featured Video For You
Tropical Storm Harvey's mind-blowing stats
-
What Ever Happened to Winamp?10 TV casts we'd like to see survive the wilderness, 'Yellowjackets'National Cathedral leaders condemn Trump’s racism, question Americans’ silence.216个上榜!最新一批“广东省卫生乡镇”出炉科创筑梦树立远大志向 蓄势赋能培养科技人才Quality Assured: What It's Really Like To Test Games For A LivingUN expert calls for justice for victims of Japanese colonial rule, Korean War孙守霞:夫妻二人共创业 带领村民同致富NASA says Earth just had the hottest day ever recordedDemocratic candidates, police brutality, Jeffrey Epstein’s scientists.
下一篇:Apple Watch 10 rumors: Everything we know so far
- ·By a technicality, August's full moon is blue. Here's why.
- ·Use Gmail Offline and Enable Email Scheduling & Snoozing
- ·春夏之交,总该来郁南听一场黄皮音乐会
- ·Koreas to have hectic joint training sessions ahead of Olympics
- ·SCOTUS: The courts implementing Project 2025, without Trump.
- ·Sex workers fear targeting under Instagram's terms of service
- ·Apple's iOS 15.4 beta lets you add COVID
- ·Use Gmail Offline and Enable Email Scheduling & Snoozing
- ·The Wonderful World of Christmas Trees
- ·National Cathedral leaders condemn Trump’s racism, question Americans’ silence.
- ·GoFundMe blasts inaction on COVID relief by sharing people's stories
- ·S. Korea. US, Japan set for trilateral consultations on N. Korea
- ·Arshad Nadeem receives Hilal
- ·216个上榜!最新一批“广东省卫生乡镇”出炉
- ·Disabled eSports players shoot stereotypes
- ·Apple's iOS 15.4 beta lets you add COVID
- ·CeeDee Lamb secures record
- ·Snap concludes investigation into racial bias on content team
- ·11 of the most expensive sex toys
- ·孙守霞:夫妻二人共创业 带领村民同致富
- ·The Eyes of Lacy
- ·就在明天!一文带你吃遍东莞食博会上的汕尾美食
- ·“宋塔”见证百丈古城
- ·关爱老兵铭记历史 弘扬爱国主义精神
- ·Tesla considers adding a new ‘stuck detection' feature to Cybertruck. Here’s why.
- ·Swine flu sweeps N. Korea
- ·The Composer Has No Clothes
- ·Ethiopia's Tsegay wins world 5000m gold
- ·Democratic candidates, police brutality, Jeffrey Epstein’s scientists.
- ·Forget to order a cable? Best Buy now has same
- ·South Korea beefs up drills amid escalating NK provocations
- ·Yoon says labor, management should resolve disputes themselves
- ·科普链接:雅安动植物基因库之长尾鸭
- ·Police shot a 12
- ·The Future of Tech: The Desktop PC
- ·Police shot a 12