REALITY: Insurers pay the vast majority of homeowners’ catastrophe losses. The bulk of government disaster assistance from FEMA goes to public infrastructure and local governments, not individuals.

• After disasters, insurance payments and federal allocations have different purposes. The bulk of federal spending covers emergency response, public infrastructure, aid to local governments and cleanup.

In contrast, only a portion of insurance payments goes to temporary living expenses, and the majority is used for long-term recovery and reconstruction.