FEMA

News without a generator was hard to come by. Word of mouth, neighbor to neighbor. Which brings me to the another thing I learned, only two days ago. Anyone without power for more than 5 days (it might be 5 days or more) is entitled to a FEMA reimbursement subsidy that may go as high as $2,000 or a smaller increment therein.

My neighbor told me to go online at FEMA.gov, and apply for assistance. It does prompt you through it, and yes, you must acknowledge if you do have homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, and you must also apply through your insurance company for any benefits you may be entitled to there. For details, or to apply, go to FEMA.gov.

I have a cousin that survived Hurricane Katrina, and lost her entire home. She had homeowner’s insurance that she did apply for, but there are many expenses that insurance does not cover, and the FEMA subsidy is an attempt to reimburse those added, unexpected charges, insurance many times does not cover.(Work-time lost, renting a place to stay, buying gas for the generator, buying a chainsaw to clear the trees, although the website points out it does not reimburse for food lost, it does reimburse for unexpected expenses—that may include lodging, meals, etc).

Although it was a neighbor that told me of this payment, I had a cousin that backed up the importance of filing a claim with FEMA. (I have an ethical problem with the government being financially responsible for a natural event, but they aren’t listening to me, and they are handing out my paid taxes to other entities that I have a bigger issue with receiving it, oh well, if we qualify get it!)These are the things I learned, and I hope some of it may help you! I think many of you may have better words of advice, or just a need to share your story, and I know, I look forward to coming here and learning more SOS techniques.

—Debi Greene.