FEMA

I survived Charlie and our whole area was trashed. Bottom line about FEMA is you have to be destitute to receive help. You must have been displaced due to your home being destroyed. To qualify for the low interest loan you must not be able to secure a loan any other way. In other words- have no credit or be a general low-life, drug addict, homeless bum etc. If you have good credit (me) you can qualify for a higher interest (8%) loan from the SBA but they will demand you account for every penny used for the loan, and the loan is "only to put your property back to where it was before the storm, NOT to upgrade or add anything new".

Bottom line- as mentioned here- don't depend on the government to help. Only my neighbors whose homes were trashed and unlivable got some help, and a couple got FEMA trailers (after

3 months). All of us who were still able to live in our homes, or had decent credit, were not qualified for any help except to be reimbursed for the cost of our generator and chain saws.

P.S. A home with a barrel tile roof in Fla is usually a pretty nice home. Usually only upscale homes have tile roofs. You were taking a chance living in a nice home while only able to live on Social Security. Maybe you should sell your place and downsize into something affordable to you, and easier to repair if needed.

thetiler

Reply to
thetiler
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Before you bash the gentleman for not having a lower deductible. The deductible for wind or hurricane used to be $500 on homeowners policies here in Florida.

New law went into effect in 2004. no matter what you chose for a deductible say $200 to $1000 or more for any other damage. The new law staes on every policy written in Florida. Deductible for wind or hurricane damage is 2% of the value of your house. 200K assessed value $4000 deductible.

You really can't change insurance companies here for homeowners ins. Companies are not writng new policies in Florida. Then you have to go with the state run Insurance company. They have just raised their premiums between 45 and 95%. And a lot of insurance companies like State Farm and All State and other companies have dropped peoples policies. Over 40K policies have been dropped in this state. and you don't have to live on the coastal regions for this to happen.

PJ

Reply to
Pat

Have you considered dumping the exceedingly expensive barrel tiles and re-roofing with something that will be covered by the $11,535? Here in Mississippi, a LOT of folks had to "downsize" some of their cosmetic appeal (self included) in trade for something more practical and more in line with their financial situation.

You might find a roofer who will take the barrel tiles off your hands in trade for some of the labor costs. Taking that route "might" allow you re-roof with a nice architectural shingle for the $11,535 you already have in the bank, negating the need for more funds from FEMA.

But, in answer to your original question - yes, FEMA actually did quite a lot for many in Mississippi (again, self included) but my situation is a little different in terms of extreme loss. With five feet of water in the house, virtually everything was destroyed, making it necessary to strip the entire house to the studs and the floors to the joists. And even with FEMA, my out-of-pocket expenses have (and will) far exceed what I recouped from both them and State Farm.

Pre-Katrina, I was not destitute at all and live in a modest neighborhood. However, post-Katrina, my wife and I lost our jobs at Grand Casino - both of which we had been in for eleven years. Perhaps FEMA looked at that too as a reason for their generosity... That, and the fact that we were NOT in a flood zone (we're 24 feet above sea level here) may have contributed to their decision as well.

Generally, folks here who "only" had roof damage (I know it's all relative) were unable to recoup much money from FEMA.

Reply to
BiloxiBoy

Perhaps the original poster should get a job.

Reply to
scott21230

11'? that won't even touch it. Codes in south Mississippi were at 13' already and they're moving to 17' and that's not enough.
Reply to
Frank Boettcher

Perhaps the original post, which is me is old and disabled? Some of you people are so quick to make derogatory judgements against people without knowing the facts. What if I answered your post and said "Perhaps this poster should get a brain".

Reply to
JerryL

Perhaps the original poster is sick and old and can't work.

Scott, I hope you never hit hard times.

Reply to
FDR

It all depends on how close to the gulf you are and if it is a barrier island. 11' is the inland rule. I am 3 miles from the beach and that is code here. If you are on one of those sand bars people call "islands" 17' is really not going to be enough.

Reply to
gfretwell

clipped

Most likely to force folks to commercial lenders whenever possible.

Reply to
Norminn

A lot of folks are on SS due to total disability. That is advice probably already considered. Life doesn't always go according to plan.

Reply to
Norminn

No it is not, at least on the Coast of Mississippi. Areas as far north as interstate 10 which is in many places farther than three miles, and is not on an island or sand bar, have been at 13' minimum.. And they are going to 17' as a minimum. And you cannot get your plans approved for construction unless you fill or construct on a raised foundation. And it still is not enough to offer protection. Nor can you get federal flood insurance unless you meet the code.

There is no universal 11' inland rule.

Reply to
Frank Boettcher

The government screwed up by building them in the first place. Nothing is impenetrable and living below sea level is just plain risky. I don't want any of my tax dollars going to rebuild. I'd rather see it spent to relocate those people and give them a start elsewhere..

Reply to
Edwin Pawlowski

I didn't know that. I have $500.

Reply to
Toller

My sympathy goes out to you for losing your roof and not having the money to pay for it, and to Biloxi Boy for losing all his possessions and having to rebuild his home from the frame

I have begun to wonder why you received so little sympathy from a portion of the repliers.

I think I know why.

You said nothing in your original post nothing about any prior catastrophic medical bills, or that you are old and disabled. In fact you still haven't said that any of these things apply to you, only that "maybe" they do and "perhaps" they do.

So far you say only that you worked since you were 11, served in the military for 4 years, paid taxes all your life, and were responsible, These are all good things but only starting work at 11 is extraordinary. And you don't say if you quit school to work full time, or if you mowed lawns, like I did at that age, or where in between your situation falls

See below.

got anything for free from the

But you did find time in your first post to make all these points that hint of a nasty attitude a) to those who lost more than you, b) to those whose possible status on welfare has nothing to do with Wilma, and c) you hint in your last sentence that you would like to say something so nasty that even you won't post it.

Maybe it is because you are angry now, and will eventually cool off, and wouldn't otherwise make such nasty cracks about others.

But really, based on all the people I know, I don't think such feelings as you seem to express are temporary. And conversely, I've found that people who don't feel or talk that way, actually don't talk that way any more so when they are angry.

You are more concerned with crapping on other people than describing your own problems.

Even though normally someone in your situation would be, you are not a sympathetic character.

Remove NOPSAM to email me. Please let me know if you have posted also.

Reply to
mm

My history means nothing. I stated a few facts just to shut up some people on this newsgroup that have nothing better to do than to ridicule or make light of someone else's position. There is one in particular that I will say a prayer for and I hope he never has any setbacks, illnesses, losses, etc. in his life because his lack of compassion will bounce back on him one day and he'll regret a lot of things he has said to people. I thank most of the people for some nice advise and good wishes and would like to end this topic right here.

Reply to
JerryL

Does that matter? Should the OP given out his SS # and his DOB? The guy had a question which either somebody could have answered or not, but others took liberty to use the anonymous nature of the internet to question his past and his personal life.

Reply to
FDR

That is right because it is really basaed on the flood map but here in Florida where it is basically flatland all the way from the beach to Orlando you can make somewhat blanket statements.

Reply to
gfretwell

Is that your homeowners, your flood or your windstorm. There are 3 separate policies. The combined premium for me is about $3500 with the high deductible option. I do have the money to cover the deductible tho. In the last 3 storms that kicked our ass I never got up to my deductible but we took care of the problems ourselves. One big factor is how fast you start mitigating the damage. You don't go looking for tarps after the roof comes off (have one) and you make sure you do a good level of prep before the storm.

Reply to
gfretwell

disabled? Some of you

against people without

this poster should get a

Jerry don't sweat it! This is usenet. Some people talk a lot tougher than they ever would to your face. Once you sift thruogh the crap you'll probably find that some folks actually give good advice. Good luck to you. I hope you find a way to stay in your house.

Reply to
Kathy

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