With a plethora of scams out there in 2017, it has become common practice to distrust anyone that shows up uninvited at your door. In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, residents in Corpus Christi continue to express concerns that scammers may be going door-to-door impersonating FEMA representatives.
"We had no flooding, no problems, and they were just curious if anybody else on the street might need assistance from FEMA, and I told them I really didn’t think so. Port A., Aransas Pass or Rockport, that’s where the damage is," explained Ray Gibson, a Corpus Christi resident.
So it’s time for a Fact Check…
Fact or Fiction: Does FEMA go door-to-door to homes that haven’t applied for assistance?
The Verdict: Fact. FEMA may go door-to-door in disaster areas.
Our Fact Check team found that yes, FEMA employees may go door-to-door to homes even if they haven’t applied for assistance. We spoke with local representatives who said their teams have been in a number of neighborhoods in the area to see if anyone needs federal aid who may not have made it to a relief center or applied online or by phone.
Of course, it’s always a good idea to be cautious of anyone that shows up at your door, but FEMA representatives will carry official identification and if they’re around due to a claim you made, they’ll be able to quote you your claim number.
But even if you haven’t applied, FEMA may still stop by in the name of seeking out those in need.
"The folks out there are disaster survivor assistants and they want to get out there and canvas every neighborhood and reach out and ask individuals, have you been impacted?" according to Bryon Boka, Individual Assistance Lead with FEMA.
If you have a question that you feel deserves a Fact Check, let us know by emailing our team at factcheck@kristv.com
