Posted on 06/13/2011 7:38:13 AM PDT by TSgt
Jefferson County resident Jonathan Stewart said he laughed in shock after the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) claimed the house his family lost in the deadly April 27 twister was ‘not unsafe to live in’.
Displaced families in tornado-ravaged Alabama are outraged after being denied federal aide to rebuild their flattened homes – due to ‘insufficient damage’.
The devastating reality is the house is now a concrete slab surrounded by rubble.
Mr Stewart told AL.com a FEMA inspector saw first-hand the Pleasant Grove residence he shared with his wife, Lisa, and their two children was ripped from the ground. Three days after the visit, however, he received a letter reading: ‘Based on your FEMA inspection, we have determined that the disaster has not caused your home to be unsafe to live in.
‘Although the disaster may have caused some minor damage it is reasonable to expect you or your landlord to make these repairs. At this time you are not eligible for FEMA housing assistance.’
Mr Stewart told the website: ‘Lisa and I looked at the letter and laughed.’ While he has since found out his insurance coverage will replace his house, the family is not alone.
Lashunta Tabb’s home 15 miles away in North Smithfield Manor was stripped of its siding, and more than half of her roof blew off with tornado-force winds.
She too, received a letter claiming there was ‘insufficient damage’ – the number one reason in Alabama the people are determined ineligible for FEMA grants, worth up to $30,200.
It is not yet known how many Alabama tornado victims received the letter.
FEMA deputy branch director for individual assistance Lynda Lowe said finding of insifficient damage are often correct, and many of those who filed for assistance did not have damage.
FEMA officials encourage whose who believe they were wrongly declared ineligible to file for an appeal through local disaster recovery centres.
Spokesman Renee Bafalis said: ‘If you have a question why you received a determination of ineligibility, go in there and let them look it up and help you file an appeal.’
A report issued on Wednesday, however, revealed few disaster victims follow through.
It showed less than one percent of the 25,081 applicants initially declared ineligible for any reason had appealed, leaving the potential for millions of dollars in federal aide to go unclaimed.
An applicant has 60 days from the date of the determination letter to appeal.
It was not known at press time how many applicants were declared ineligible in Alabama due to insufficient damage. However, similar findings have occurred after nearly every recent disaster.
THE BUREAUCRACY BEHIND APPLYING FOR FEMA AIDE:
When a disaster victim applies for a FEMA grant, an inspector is dispatched to the applicant’s property.
Inspectors carry laptops connected to a database called NEMIS (National Emergency Management Information System), which guides them through measuring rooms and assessing damage.
Items marked for repair or replacement are priced depending on the geographic region.
Letters are issued based on the computerised report, telling an applicant whether he qualifies for FEMA assistance.
An applicant has 60 days from the date of the determination letter to appeal.
What qualifies as ‘insufficient damage’ remains unclear.
A pending lawsuit accusing FEMA of improperly denying thousands of farm workers in Texas money to repair their homes after Hurricane Dolly struck in 2008 based on the insufficient damage finding claims that FEMA used a concept called ‘deferred maintenance’ to back the rejections.
Deferred maintenance is not referenced in any regulation, Jerry Wesevich, an attorney with Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid who represents the plaintiffs, told AL.com.
Mr Wesevich described deferred maintenance as a ‘shorthand term that FEMA uses when it determines somehow that a condition of a home prior to the disaster caused the damage after the storm’.
An Alabama inspectors’ coordinator for FEMA said deferred maintenance is no longer used in assessing damage, although there is a place for inspectors to note ‘pre-existing’ conditions.
It looks like these people could use a community organizer! /s
He used up all the FEMA money passing out debit cards for cathouses, five star hotel rooms and big screen teeveees after Katrina. < / sarcasm >
Obama’s Revenge.............Unless you’re one of ‘Holder’s people’....................
I believe FEMA should be eliminated. But while it exists, it ought to exist for everyone equally - including bitter, gun-clinging crackers!
Surely you’re not just coming to this revelation.
Actually, it’s a lot more than just “doesn’t care about”,
it’s hate.
Constitutional or not, it exists and should be doing the job it is funded for, not being a political payback agency....................
The Obama Administration is using its power to reward its friends and punish its enemies. Opponents of the Obama Administration beware.
Obama is both bumbling and arrogant.
Was just having this same conversation with a friend.
When you use the words, “typical white people” you’re positively a racist.
The man hates Caucasians.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P36x8rTb3jI - “If I help him, he’s going to help me.” Conversely, “If I don’t help him, he’s not going to help me.”
In a case like this where you have lost everything, even a higher insurance policy that covers rebuilding costs plus contents won't pay for everything - I understand helping these folks out and am curious how FEMA decides who/where to pay. This sure sounds like they are choosing friendly areas of the country to "reward"
I'm sure this will get wide play all over the MSM. [not]
Agreed there. IMHO the only time FEMA should step in is where insurance refuses to pay or in large-scale flooding events, in areas where people don’t have flood insurance, and that could even be done at a state level.
Remember the attacks on FEMA and the Bush Administration after Katrina? Anyone know how many billions of dollars were spent on FEMA relief to New Orleans?
I don’t know why anyone trusts this Administration.
Carry insurance, and know the the Fedgov will not help you.
I was just re-pharasing the Comment of Kanye.....And Don’t call me Shirley! LOL
FEMA has been on close watch since the 2004 hurricanes that devastated Florida and Hurricane Katrina, which struck the Gulf in 2005, when the General Accounting office accused it of squandering millions of dollars awarding emergency grants to unqualified home owners.
Claire B. Rubin, a disaster researcher and consultant in the Washington, D.C., area, explained: 'In Katrina they lost so much money because they were not careful about payout," Rubin said. The GAO hit them hard.'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2002793/Alabama-tornado-hit-family-denied-FEMA-grant-repair-home.html
Funny how certain trigger issues can turn a flag-waving, Constitution-hugging FReeper into an instant government-dependent skittle moocher.
The question is, does the Constitution allow the Federal government to provide tax dollars for disaster relief?
As uncompassionate as this sounds, it would be better for folks to go about this the way our great grandparents did: good churches and good neighbors jumping in to help.
“They need to call the New Oreleans police. They know how to help...themselves...”
Yes that is the Democrat way,Loot and steal.
God needs to do us all a favor and send an F5 tornado barreling through FEMA until it no longer exists.
This is a standard Government tactic across the board - FEMA, SS Disability, etc etc.... Deny the first claim no matter what to AVOID PAYING OUT MONEY as long as possible.
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