Should I file with FEMA, my insurance, or both first?

After a disaster you may have two doors: your home or renters insurance, and FEMA's Individuals and Households Program (up to $44,800 for housing and $44,800 for other needs in 2026). FEMA is the payer of last resort — it can't duplicate what insurance pays — but you can and often should register with FEMA while your claim is pending. What you have, what caused the damage, and whether your area is federally declared decide the order. This is education, not legal advice.