FEMA wants their money back!

[ducklite]

have any of you been here and seen the devastation? have you listened to the elderly cry because they have lost everything they worked a lifetime for? most of the federal money is earmarked for roads and bridges and military use. only a small percentage is actually going to the people like a tiny bandaid on a very large wound. all these people want is to go back in time before Aug. 29 and there's not enough money in the whole world to do that.

Exactly. People who were properly insured have begun rebuilding their lives. People who weren't, well, why are they blaming anyone but themselves?

No amount of money can replace personal momento's. If that's what they are grieving over, they need to move on. Not sure why tax money should pay for anyone's personal stuff to be replaced. It's for infrastructure, public schools and buildings.

While I empathize with people who have lost everything (I have friends who did, but they had adequate insurance and are rebuilding) I don't understand why anyone feels that it's the responsibility of the rest of the country to take care of them. Doens't anyone believe in PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY anymore?

Anne

 

[disneymom3]

Sadly Anne, far too few people do believe in personal responsibility.

You know, what? I don't even mind tax money going to help those who are in need. Someday, I may be walking in their shoes. But the shoes I will NEVER walk in are those of people who are scamming the government and other organizations trying to get what they do not deserve to receive. All that does is take it away from those who do truly need it. I don't know how that point could be more clear and how anyone in good conscience could argue with that.

 

[DVC Sadie]

There are a lot of people who did have insurance but the insurance companies are not paying. If a family had flood insurance the maximum amount you receive is 250,000. All the years our family has paid for insurance not only for our house plus contents we were basically told "tough luck". We also had different riders from the insurance companies to include things like jewelry and antiques. Nothing was covered according to insurance since it was all flood damage.

The prices here have tripled for labor and some materials. It will take a long time for the coast to recover.

The hardest thing for a lot of families to deal with is the mental anguish of losing so much. While I feel blessed and so grateful to be able to rebuild someday, somehow I am peeved that the insurance companies got to walk away without paying a dime and basically left both the homeowners and the federal government (you the taxpayers) holding the bag.

I just wanted to explain how the insurance is working (or not working) down here. Thanks to all of you taxpayers and to the generous donations (both of money and time) we will be back.

Thanks for listening.

 

[LuvDuke]

There are a lot of people who did have insurance but the insurance companies are not paying. If a family had flood insurance the maximum amount you receive is 250,000. All the years our family has paid for insurance not only for our house plus contents we were basically told "tough luck". We also had different riders from the insurance companies to include things like jewelry and antiques. Nothing was covered according to insurance since it was all flood damage.

The prices here have tripled for labor and some materials. It will take a long time for the coast to recover.

The hardest thing for a lot of families to deal with is the mental anguish of losing so much. While I feel blessed and so grateful to be able to rebuild someday, somehow I am peeved that the insurance companies got to walk away without paying a dime and basically left both the homeowners and the federal government (you the taxpayers) holding the bag.

I just wanted to explain how the insurance is working (or not working) down here. Thanks to all of you taxpayers and to the generous donations (both of money and time) we will be back.

Thanks for listening.

I went through Hurricane Charley so I know what exactly what you're talking about.

Unfortunately, there are too many here who don't want to hear it because it interferes with their pontification agenda about "personal responsibility". Nevermind the fact that kicking somebody when they're down reflects their lack of common decency. It must make them feel good to look down their nose at those who don't quite meet their standards of personal responsibililty.

And above all, nevermind the fact that many people did exactly what they were supposed to do and got screwed anyway.

But they never let that fact interfere with their own personal soap box. Karma, however, bites us all in the *** eventually. Even the ones who preach the loudest about personal responsibility.

Good luck to you.

 

[ducklite]

I went through Hurricane Charley so I know what exactly what you're talking about.

Unfortunately, there are too many here who don't want to hear it because it interferes with their pontification agenda about "personal responsibility". Nevermind the fact that kicking somebody when they're down reflects their lack of common decency. It must make them feel good to look down their nose at those who don't quite meet their standards of personal responsibililty.

And above all, nevermind the fact that many people did exactly what they were supposed to do and got screwed anyway.

But they never let that fact interfere with their own personal soap box. Karma, however, bites us all in the *** eventually. Even the ones who preach the loudest about personal responsibility.

Good luck to you.

You are so wrong. I have no problems helping out those who are truly down. But I also feel that people need to be responsible for themselves. I've got $100,000 in temporary living expenses coverage on my insurance. That would pay for basic furnishings and four years rent on a place while mine was being rebuilt. And if you can't rebuild in that time frame, you're doing something wrong.

I helped out several people who were HELPING themselves after hurricanes the past couple years. I gave furniture and household goods to a couple different families who had reloacted to this area where they had found employment, lent my generator to another family who lost their power after Jeanne, and made arrangements with a parish priest in Vero Beach to have my husband go to board up windows and do some minor repairs for some seniors who had repairable damage after Jeanne.

What I've got a problem with is those who have underinsured, not bought flood when they live in a flood plain, or just given up and are waiting for someone to fix things for them. Since when is it the government or the publics responsibility to make things right for private citizen's? If you own a home, you should have insurance. It's the cost of owning a home. I've got a $10,000 hurricane deductible, and I sure as heck have the savings to cover it should I need to. That's just common sense.

If your home was damaged by a hurricane, why does that become the problem of anyone but you and your insurance company? If you didn't have adequate insurance or savings, whose fault is that?

For every one person still wailing about Hurricane Charley, 1000 people have made their repairs (out of pocket if need be--that was the case of a co-worker who only two weeks ago got her check from her insurance!) and gotten on with their lives. What does that say to you?

If I were in a situation where my insurance wouldn't pay for repairs, I'd take money from my savings to get it done, and fight with them later--bringing in my brother and father-in-law from out of state to do the work with DH if I was unable to get a contractor (which is legal without them having a license if you aren't paying them). I wouldn't just hang around waiting for FEMA to give me a handout.

The entire point of this thread to begin with is FEMA requiring those who shouldn't have gotten a payment to begin with to give it back. That money belongs to the taxpayers of the USA. And God only knows we pay enough taxes as it is to not want to be riupped off by someone who got a payment they weren't entitled to from the beginning.

Anne

 

[annegal]

That would pay for basic furnishings and four years rent on a place while mine was being rebuilt. And if you can't rebuild in that time frame, you're doing something wrong.


Anne

It took 10 years for Florida to rebuild the area devestated by Hurricane Andrew. The devestation to Louisiana and Mississippi is far worse.The problem is not enough workers to do the work.

 

[ducklite]

It took 10 years for Florida to rebuild the area devestated by Hurricane Andrew. The devestation to Louisiana and Mississippi is far worse.The problem is not enough workers to do the work.

And like I said, I'd bring in my own if I had to. In all honesty, I could probably go ten years with $100K if I was very careful. Four years would be renting a house similar to what I live in now.

The point is that people need to be properly insured and have adequate savings to take care of themselves in the case of a disaster, not rely on the government to 100% take care of them. For some people getting $1000 from FEMA was enough to give them the funds to relocate to an area that they could find employment or whatever. But for too many it was nothing mroe than meals in restaurants while FEMA paid for their hotel rooms and they spent their days in a pity party rather than finding work.

There were still three fmilies living in hotels in the Orlando area as of a few months back. There is no excuse for not working in this area, jobs are plentiful. It might not be what they want to do--but sometimes you don't always get to do what you want to do in life.

And there were plenty of people back in the areas hit by Andrew within a year or so. Most people who WANTED to be back there were able to be back there within three years or less.

Anne

 

[LuvDuke]

You are so wrong. I have no problems helping out those who are truly down. But I also feel that people need to be responsible for themselves. I've got $100,000 in temporary living expenses coverage on my insurance. That would pay for basic furnishings and four years rent on a place while mine was being rebuilt. And if you can't rebuild in that time frame, you're doing something wrong.

I helped out several people who were HELPING themselves after hurricanes the past couple years. I gave furniture and household goods to a couple different families who had reloacted to this area where they had found employment, lent my generator to another family who lost their power after Jeanne, and made arrangements with a parish priest in Vero Beach to have my husband go to board up windows and do some minor repairs for some seniors who had repairable damage after Jeanne.

What I've got a problem with is those who have underinsured, not bought flood when they live in a flood plain, or just given up and are waiting for someone to fix things for them. Since when is it the government or the publics responsibility to make things right for private citizen's? If you own a home, you should have insurance. It's the cost of owning a home. I've got a $10,000 hurricane deductible, and I sure as heck have the savings to cover it should I need to. That's just common sense.

If your home was damaged by a hurricane, why does that become the problem of anyone but you and your insurance company? If you didn't have adequate insurance or savings, whose fault is that?

For every one person still wailing about Hurricane Charley, 1000 people have made their repairs (out of pocket if need be--that was the case of a co-worker who only two weeks ago got her check from her insurance!) and gotten on with their lives. What does that say to you?

If I were in a situation where my insurance wouldn't pay for repairs, I'd take money from my savings to get it done, and fight with them later--bringing in my brother and father-in-law from out of state to do the work with DH if I was unable to get a contractor (which is legal without them having a license if you aren't paying them). I wouldn't just hang around waiting for FEMA to give me a handout.

The entire point of this thread to begin with is FEMA requiring those who shouldn't have gotten a payment to begin with to give it back. That money belongs to the taxpayers of the USA. And God only knows we pay enough taxes as it is to not want to be riupped off by someone who got a payment they weren't entitled to from the beginning.

Anne

Did you dust off the soapbox before you got on it ........... again?

Did you shine your shoes before you kicked people while they're down .............. again?

I'm wrong? No, and this exchange speaks for itself ............. again.

 

[ducklite]

Did you dust off the soapbox before you got on it ........... again?

Did you shine your shoes before you kicked people while they're down .............. again?

I'm wrong? No, and this exchange speaks for itself ............. again.

What specifically do you have a problem with? Do you feel that FEMA should give you the cash to fix your house? Why?

Why would anyone feel that they are OWED anything?

Why would you not have adequate insurance or savings to cover repairs to your home? Why would you expect someone else to cover act of God damage to your home other than your insurance?

The only soapbox I'm on is that it seems that there are a lot of people who think they are owed something by the rest of the country--or FEMA, but who do you think pays for that? Heck, I'm paying for the homeowners of people in Florida because I got a mandatory surcharge on my homeowners to bail out Citizen's, rather than them surcharging their own insureds. Why on earth should I be paying for someone else's home owners insurance? We're not taking indigent people who are already living in poverty who my taxes (which is what the surcharge is--a tax) are paying for their foodstamps. We're talking homeowners who if they can't afford to own their home without welfare, should move to a home they can afford. And rich people who own mansions on Fishers Island who are also paying below market rates for their homeowners because the rest of the state is getting taxed to subsidize their estates.

Anne

 

[annegal]

And like I said, I'd bring in my own if I had to. In all honesty, I could probably go ten years with $100K if I was very careful.

Anne

Do you really think the poor people of southwest LA-Cameron etc who lived in trailers and simple wood homes had $100k living allowance?

Do you honestly think most people have the wherewithal to rebuild their homes?

 

[LuvDuke]

What specifically do you have a problem with? Do you feel that FEMA should give you the cash to fix your house? Why?

Why would anyone feel that they are OWED anything?

Why would you not have adequate insurance or savings to cover repairs to your home? Why would you expect someone else to cover act of God damage to your home other than your insurance?

The only soapbox I'm on is that it seems that there are a lot of people who think they are owed something by the rest of the country--or FEMA, but who do you think pays for that? Heck, I'm paying for the homeowners of people in Florida because I got a mandatory surcharge on my homeowners to bail out Citizen's, rather than them surcharging their own insureds. Why on earth should I be paying for someone else's home owners insurance? We're not taking indigent people who are already living in poverty who my taxes (which is what the surcharge is--a tax) are paying for their foodstamps. We're talking homeowners who if they can't afford to own their home without welfare, should move to a home they can afford. And rich people who own mansions on Fishers Island who are also paying below market rates for their homeowners because the rest of the state is getting taxed to subsidize their estates.

Anne

I specifically have a problem with:

1) People who use others suffering as a jumping off point to jump onto the soap box and peddle their "personal responsibililty" spiel

2) People who are nowhere near the situation but "know" exactly what someone else did as to insurance, supplies, etc. and use that "knowledge" to jump on their own personal soap box

3) I especially have a problem with people who don't have enough decency and generosity of spirit to understand that throwing salt into a suffering person's wounds, simply to score their own personal agenda points, is wrong.

 

[ducklite]

I specifically have a problem with:

1) People who use others suffering as a jumping off point to jump onto the soap box and peddle their "personal responsibililty" spiel

2) People who are nowhere near the situation but "know" exactly what someone else did as to insurance, supplies, etc. and use that "knowledge" to jump on their own personal soap box

3) I especially have a problem with people who don't have enough decency and generosity of spirit to understand that throwing salt into a suffering person's wounds, simply to score their own personal agenda points, is wrong.

I speak the truth. Many people took money that they shouldn't have. Many people are benefitting from "Florida's Welfare for Homeowners" by not paying market rates for their homeowners insurance, and often putting the cost of their insurance on the backs of those who can even less afford to pay.

Like I said, there are some people who needed a quick hand up and then immediately became self-suffucuent. But there are so many more who do nothing more than whine and complain, and do nothing to better their situation. Or those who continue to live in a place where they KNOW that they are risking serious property damage, and expecting a taxpayer bailout every time.

You continue to bash me, yet you refuse to answer my questions. I can put a logical argument behind each of my assertations. You make assertations and refuse to abck them up.

My "soapbox" is that if you put yourself in a situation, ANY situation, take the consequences of your actions and deal with them. That goes for anything from living in a flood zone to skipping geometry class, to buying a gas guzzler car.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

Do you really think the poor people of southwest LA-Cameron etc who lived in trailers and simple wood homes had $100k living allowance?

Do you honestly think most people have the wherewithal to rebuild their homes?

FEMA should not rebuild homes. That's not what tax dollars are supposed to do. If it's the case that they are getting homes rebuilt with tax dollars, than if I ever have storm damage, I expect that they will rebuild mine as well. What makes one person more deserving than another?

If they had homeowners insurance they would have gotten some living expenses and money to rebuild or relocate. If they were so indigent that they didn't have insurance, they probably got a FEMA payment, and hopefully used it in a constructive manner.

If they don't have the "wherewithal," to rebuild, then what are they going to do? Live on the public dole for the remainder of their lives? That's not an acceptable solution for anyone concerned.

Anne

 

[wishfulthinkin]

when I read the most recent reply to my post I wanted to be mean and ugly but then I realized that I have met so many wonderful people from the state of Florida who are here helping us so I can't blame the whole state on a few that are here on this board. FEMA has found that there was only one percent of the money to be returned and most of that was from their own errors. this includes the most recent debris removal which they have found to be untrue and are paying the full amount. whether any of you like it or not a portion of our tax dollars go to disaster relief regardless of where it occurs in this great nation that includes all of us including Florida. I've always given to charities that help out the state of Florida and all your MANY hurricanes. of course I know you can't help what nature brings your way and that is the reason I will continue to give. as of Mississippi...we will be okay...no matter what

 

[MrsKreamer]

3) I especially have a problem with people who don't have enough decency and generosity of spirit to understand that throwing salt into a suffering person's wounds, simply to score their own personal agenda points, is wrong.

I have to say something about this. You have no knowledge about Anne's generosity. When DH and I moved to Fl to find work she funrnished our apartment. I was amazed by how selflessly she gave. If it weren't for her we would have been eating on the floor, and sleeping on an air matress.

Besides she makes a great point. I am from new orleans and was ashamed to see so many from here living in hotels for months, not finding jobs in areas that had them. Dh and I decided early on after Katrina that we had to provide for our family, so we did what we had to do....and were very blessed that those here on the Dis were there to help, but we also found work and a place to live by October. We relocated 700+ miles away. We provided for our family until we were able to return home. We did it all without a dime from FEMA.

 

[wishfulthinkin]

I would like to invite the country to buy a map of the United States and find New Orleans. Please notice that it is in the state of Louisiana not Mississippi. I did not know of the recovery in NO. The Mississippi gulf coast is my own tiny piece of paradise and I will spend my lifetime to see it recover. When I'm not working I'm helping. I've not drawn any unemployment nor have i recieved assistance from FEMA. We have all become advocates of recovery and will continue as long as it takes and I won't allow this state to be put down without defending it.

 

[ducklite]

I would like to invite the country to buy a map of the United States and find New Orleans. Please notice that it is in the state of Louisiana not Mississippi. I did not know of the recovery in NO. The Mississippi gulf coast is my own tiny piece of paradise and I will spend my lifetime to see it recover. When I'm not working I'm helping. I've not drawn any unemployment nor have i recieved assistance from FEMA. We have all become advocates of recovery and will continue as long as it takes and I won't allow this state to be put down without defending it.

Who is putting it down? Where has ANYONE put down any state, region, city, or street? Where has ANYONE said that NOLA should get help and the Gulf Coast shouldn't? If you read early posts in the Katrina thread, I was putting out calls for help in various MS towns, I recall one in particular with an urgent need ofr RN's and paramedics.

The point is not--and never has been--that any particular area deserves help while another doesn't.

I've all along stated that taxpayer dollars should be used towards rebuilding infrastructure--streets, hospitals, libraries, public housing--but that taxpayer dollars should not be used to rebuild private homes and businesses. That's what insurance and non-profit organizations (Habitat for Humanity to name one) are for. And that's the entire point.

And for the record, if you'll notice the links in my signature, one is for a NOLA based charity, the other benefits non-profit organizations in the Biloxi/Gulfport region.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

whether any of you like it or not a portion of our tax dollars go to disaster relief regardless of where it occurs in this great nation that includes all of us including Florida. I've always given to charities that help out the state of Florida and all your MANY hurricanes. of course I know you can't help what nature brings your way and that is the reason I will continue to give. as of Mississippi...we will be okay...no matter what

There is a difference between tax dollars going for disaster relief which gives immediate life sustaining basics such as food, water, and shelter for the week or two after a disaster, and then uses tax dollars to rebuild infrastructure (which IMHO includes hauling away debris, as leaving it creates a public health issue). However, tax dollars should NOT be used to rebuild homes, or repair homes--other than perhaps an immediate mitagation such as installing a blue tarp on a damaged roof or supplying sand bags to areas prone to flooding.

Why is a natural disaster such as a flood any different than having a fire. If your house burned to the ground, would you expect the government to rebuild it for you? Of course not. Then why would anyone expect the same for a storm damaged home?

Anne

 

[RachaelRol]

I agree with Anne completely. There is a need for personal responsiblity as a homeowner. There are risks involved and as homeowners we need to proactively plan for them.

I think some of you are falsely bashing Anne. I am much more of a lurker than poster, but have read many of Anne's posts and she is never preachy or on a sopa box. She is very honest and straight forward and as MrsKreamer, points out very generous.

The goverment is there to stop the bleeding, the rest is up to the indivudual. Its not about not wanting to help, its about helping those who help themselves. Those who sit around and complain or haven't yet decided to "pick themselves up from thier bootstraps" don't really deserve anything more than has amready been provided.

 

[LuvDuke]

I have to say something about this. You have no knowledge about Anne's generosity. When DH and I moved to Fl to find work she funrnished our apartment. I was amazed by how selflessly she gave. If it weren't for her we would have been eating on the floor, and sleeping on an air matress.

Besides she makes a great point. I am from new orleans and was ashamed to see so many from here living in hotels for months, not finding jobs in areas that had them. Dh and I decided early on after Katrina that we had to provide for our family, so we did what we had to do....and were very blessed that those here on the Dis were there to help, but we also found work and a place to live by October. We relocated 700+ miles away. We provided for our family until we were able to return home. We did it all without a dime from FEMA.

And just like DL, you have no idea what someone else's situation is either and it's pure speculation on both your parts.

Good for you that you got on your feet. I've got neighbors here who DID have insurance and DID have provisions and still things went tragically wrong. I've got neighbors who can't move back into their homes because they got low-balled by their insurance companies and can't afford to take them to court. Gee, maybe, as they sent out that premium check, they should've known their insurance company wasn't going to pay. Maybe as they stacked up the provisions, they should've known their roof was going to come caving in. Yeah, that's the ticket.

Regardless, using someone's personal tragedy as a jump off point to peddle your own "personal responsibility" agenda is disgraceful. And, kicking someone while they're down goes to the heart of character. Doubly so when it's done under they guise of "honesty".

Btw, water damage caused by storm surge flooding is wind damage and not simple flooding as claimed by the insurance companies and some of the "experts" on this board. People's homes along the Gulf Coast and NO were not damaged by floods. They were damaged by high winds resulting in a storm surge and government neglect of the levees. Geeez, maybe they should've had insurance for neglect and lying. Yup, that's the ticket.