Does any one know how FEMA works

[Kari]

Ok here is the situation - during the last hurricane we lost our large sign, a picnic table, had to pay to have the awning fixed and had to pay to have some trees ro be removed. Plus we lost 7 days of business. During these days we could have tripled our business (there were the evacuees that were in town, the workers, my regular customers and those with out power that were not able to wash at home).

We contacted FEMA and the response we got was sorry the only thing we can do is give you is a loan. (a loan NOT a grant)!!!

What ticks me off this there are so many people out there getting assistance. I work hard and pay my taxes yet it seems to be the people that are living off the system that are getting most of the assistance.

We will be contacting FEMA to get a few more opinions.

But was wondering what your experience with them has been.

[pete f]

I think you ae basicaly SOL and lucky to have a business left. FEMA will cover basic living needs for those devistated by the storm.
I lost about 8 days worth of business also, people stay in durring h'canes. I had some damage to a couple building, nothing to big, I bought material and fixed the stuff myself. I don't think FEMA will hand you money becuase you had a bad week. Your insurance may have a loss business clause you can claim against. If FEMA has a good loan, take it and redo your mat, consider it a gift from the gods...

[Gary C]

Robinhood. I will say no more.

Gary

[laundryboy]

Please forgive the following sarcasm during this time of need:

Kari:

Love the idea. Next time it snows real hard up here in the north and they close the roads, and no-one can come to my mats for three or four days .. all that lost business. Think I'll call the government, too!

[n175h]

Does anyone sincerely believe that that it is the taxpayers' responsibility to compensate folks to rebuild over and over again in a beautiful coastline setting that has the propensity to get destructive hurricanes year after year?

Just wondering.

Actually, back to your original question, I think you answered it. They said they would give you a loan.

David

[Gary C]

n175h

I don't think we should just give money to someone and pay for the rebuild. But as a society I think we can help with low cost mony to loan where insurance does not cover. It's never a good idea to just give money.

Gary

[QQKate]

Hi Kari,
I could have written your same exact thread, word for word. Been there, done that! I work hard and have never taken any gov't. assistance, except school loans which I am paying back. It is disheartening to see FEMA giving away so much $$$ to others and even to some who are not legal citizens. For the record, FEMA does NOT give loans, they connect you to SBA and you may qualify for a low interest rate IF you can not qualify for a loan on your own. Guess what, I can barely qualify for my own loan. So I am having to pay going rates.

On one level of thinking, I thank God that I can qualify on my own and I did not have more damage from the three hurricanes that effected my business. However, there is also a part of me that wishes I had not-so-good credit and could get the 2.99% business loan. My entire roof needs to be replaced, I had to re-install my privacy fence around the water treatment plant (twice) and a large limb fell into the treatment plant and broke the three sprinklers. My Dad is a plumber so I was able to fix that pretty cheaply. I spent two weeks dragging limbs out to the road after I had to pay someone to cut down the trees that fell over or were "hanging". I do have insurance to help some. It has been a rough 6 weeks. And the "season" is not over.

We will survive! Keep your chin up!
Kate (in North Central FL)

[Andy]

That is what business is all about- risk /reward. If the government or any other entity were at the ready to pick up the pieces without being compensated ( like insurance is ) then everyone would do it, or should.

I am not trying to be cold here, I think if you have a problem with hurricanes perhaps you should look into insurance that will cover such losses. Laundryboy's snow example was right on.

[Gary C]

It is a very hard situation. You work hard and see it just given to others it does not seem right. In fact it is not right... Call your congressmen and see what they can do. Point out that you need to be up and running to take care of the poor people they just gave all that money to.

Gary

[Kari]

Love the idea. Next time it snows real hard up here in the north and they close the roads, and no-one can come to my mats for three or four days .. all that lost business. Think I'll call the government, too!


We were down due to no power. Many people here got money from FEMA for days that they could not go to work due to their employeer being shut down. Just wondering if they did the same thing for businesses.

Yes Pete - at least I still have my business, home and life. So yes, we were VERY lucky and my heart goes out to those that were not so lucky.

Andy - I do have hurricane insurance - I just did not know exactly how FEMA works.

QQKate - lets just hope we have all seen the worst of it.

I have been hearing lots about people getting money that they really should not have.

There was a guy here that has a really run down trailer and car and I have been told it was the way for years. He took pictures of it right after the hurrincane and showed FEMA. They sent him a $3,000 check, no questions asked. There had been no damage to his trailer due to the hurricane it was just the bad to begin with. What did he use the money for - he bought some new fishing poles.

Down at the school they were giving out water and ice. Some jerk went and got some then came to my place and was trying to sell it. When asked where he got the stuff - he laughted and said that he has been selling everything that he could get for free. He was asked to get the hell out of there.

Oh well, those types of people are every where.