FEMA

[MGC]

We have taken in a lady who lost everything to Katrina. She lived in Pass Christian a half block from the beach. All she has left is a slab. The remains of her home are located a couple of houses inland along with the debris of numerous other homes. She did not have flood insurance. FEMA in its infinite wisdom has rejected her claim and closed it. She has called Trent Lott's and Gene Taylor's offices will no success. Is it time to go to the media for help? This has pissed me off because this lady is in great need and the government won't do anything to help her while people here where I work have gotten assistance with only minimal damage to their homes. Any suggestions.......MGC

[wxman57]

She should be able to apply for a low-interest government loan with FEMA, I believe. Has she applied? FEMA is also supposed to be supplying temporary housing, but I saw quite a few FEMA mobile homes in Pascagoula just sitting there. Apparently, the paperwork is too much to figure out when applying for one. What else is she looking for? Does she have any relatives who can help? My mother's home over in Gautier was flooded. She had no insurance, either. They were 15 feet above sea level. I've been helping her to rebuild.

I think we're all learning the value of having flood insurance, even if we're not in "flood zones". Without it, you're pretty much on your own if you flood.

To add to this post, I was just thinking -- How do FEMA and the insurance companies (not flood insurance) know that these homes suffered no damage from winds and wind-blown debris before they were washed away? Many of the homes could have had serious roof damage from trees falling on them before the surge hit, as the surge moves ashore near the hurricane's core of max winds. But outside this core, winds can still be strong enough to cause a good bit of damage.

[Lindaloo]

They don't know which is flood and which is wind damage. Then along comes the insurance companies wanting people to sign papers stating their home collapsed solely by flood water. Instead of both flood and homeowners topping each other out, they fight about it. Guess who suffers? If you said the insured, then you guessed right.

FEMA is supposed to pay what the insurance company will not pay. FEMA tops out at $26,500 dollars. That is not even enough to replace your furniture.

About that SBA (small business loan). Yes, it is a loan but if you can't pay it back then it turns into a grant. That would be her best bet to get somewhere to live.

Chris, the reason the FEMA trailers are just sitting there is because there is a problem in the 13 street area (Chipley subdivision.) This is the area I was telling you about in my PM. The city of Pascagoula is going to demolish those homes and are not going to allow them to rebuild. That area needed to be demolished way before Katrina and better, more sufficient housing for low income families. Alot of those trailers you saw are not FEMA trailers. They are trailers that people have brought in to sell.