FEMA Report from Iowa

I received this from a reader last night via email:

I thought I would pass along a quick story of my experience with FEMA after the recent deluge of rainfall/flooding in Iowa.

I had couple inches of water throughout my partially-finished basement due to excessive rainfall (seepage under basement floor due to elevated water table and hydrostatic pressure).  Sump pump was working but could not keep up. I have been in my house 8 years and never even had any water in sump pit before.   Homeowner Insurance (State Farm) does not cover seepage. I lost carpet/pad and ended up cutting drywall up 2 feet to prevent mold/mildew from starting. My loses ($$) are very minimal compared to many of my fellow Iowans.

I did not plan to apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance, but my dad forwarded an article written by staff writer from Cedar Rapids Gazette about his personal experience with water in his finished basement. The writer's basement flooding sounded very similar to mine and he talked about applying and receiving monies from FEMA. I still did not plan to apply, but I attended the local Farmer's Market (Des Moines) this past Saturday. Several FEMA workers were walking around and handing out fliers about Disaster Assistance Program. I visited with one of the FEMA workers about my situation and he said I should definitely apply.

I ended up dropping by local Jr. High School where FEMA had the local office set up. I applied that afternoon (Sat.).... 20-30 minute process. I ran a few errands on my way home from applying, and as I pulled in the garage an inspector called me on cell phone to set up time for home inspection.  He wanted to come that night, but I had prior commitments so I set the inspection the next morning (Sunday). Inspection took about 30 minutes. Provided receipts & additional personal information and gave tour of home and damage was documented.

It turns out that FEMA direct-deposited Disaster Assistance monies into my checking the next day (Monday). It took a total of 3 days (Sat to Mon). My experience with FEMA was a very positive one.

My first thoughts upon reading this were:

1. I'm glad the reader got help. I've been in a flood before and it can cause great damage rather quickly.

2. Wow, that's a VERY FAST response by FEMA.

3. Why is the government handing out money so quickly and for (relatively) minor issues? Have we reversed course from being too slow to respond (Katrina) to being too fast?

What's your take?

Comments

[KMC]

Makes me wonder why the crap I'm paying for flood insurance.

[HighnDrynKansas]

Are the people of Iowa any different that those that were in Louisiana? Well yea, they are different in the people of Iowa worked together to try and help each other out in a disaster. I am not saying all the people in N.O. were bad but they know who they are!
The Iowans deserve to be treated fairly and quickly in assessing their monetary needs. If someone has suffered loss/damage, who is to say how quick is too quick? Yesterday is fine by me if I need something! I do believe however that if we continue to "depend" on the Federal Government to bail us out then we are on the wrong path.

[Eric G]

Of course the people in Iowa are different in another way from the folks in LA, HighnDrynKansas....but I bet your man Rush didn't spend too much time talking about that, did he? Of course not.

[FMF]

Here's more info from my Iowan friend:

Couple add'l points I should have added...

I am not trying to make any sort of political statement of FEMA's handling of Iowa flooding situation vs Hurricane Katrina in Southern US. Hurricane Katrina was catastrophic in comparison to Iowa floodings. Mine was just a simple statement.... I had a good experience when dealing with FEMA.

Also the amount of money I received from FEMA was minimal. Very, very small percentage of my out-of-pocket expenses to restore basement to original state. Actually I have donated more money to Red Cross and one other local flood-related charity in greater amount than I received from FEMA.

[cmadler]

I'm very surprised by how quickly the direct deposit hit your bank account; non-wire transfer EFTs usually takes several banking days (Day 1, they send it; day 2 it arrives at your bank if it's big; day 3 it arrives at your bank if it's small).

[moneymama]

A response that fast and painless is unbeliveable to me! After volunteering in Louisiana after Katrina and not seeing a single FEMA logo - until the day I left in a bar in Baton Rouge! To the trouble flood vicitms in Oklahoma last summer had to go through to get assistance, this is amazing. I am glad to see they are finally figuring out some of their flaws and actually helping people.
The number of people who want to 'depend' on the government or others to help them is low - but when something like this happens, I know they are grateful for any assistance they can get when trying to return to normalcy. FEMA has a track record of making that a long, difficult process - I am glad they are seeing the error of their ways and actually providing that promised assistance.

[Rick]

cmadler: EFTs can happen same day, but there's usually an extra fee. Most credit cards allow same-day payments, but often there's a $14.95 fee. My guess is FEMA just paid this extra fee.

Which brings me to my next point: your tax dollars at work. I too wonder why we bother buying flood insurance. The government will just bail you out if you don't.

FMF's friend may not be trying to make a political statement, but I am. We are depending upon the government too much. Major banks like Bear Stearns make risky investments, and then the government bails them out when they get into trouble. People expect the governmetn to provide health insurance. People expect the government to pay for their damaged property from floods and tornadoes. This is why we have a $3 trillion budget, and such a massive deficit, while we have such a weak dollar.

[Kevin]

Good to hear FEMA is making progress, unfortunately for the folks in N.O. it is too little too late. It doesn't sound like this reader got a windfall, but this is a pretty minor issue comparatively.

Honestly, with all the flooding here in the Midwest, maybe everyone needs to rethink building in flood-prone areas, including some areas of New Orleans. It doesn't make sense to keep building and replacing homes in some of these areas when they just flood again 10 or 15 years later.

[F. Morana]

"Makes me wonder why the crap I'm paying for flood insurance." (Posted by: KMC | July 09, 2008 at 01:03 PM)

ALL flood insurance comes from FEMA, regardless of whatever the company you buy it from. In other words, there is no private carrier in the U.S. that is actually in the business of providing flood insurance, except in a capacity as "middleman" between you & FEMA.

FEMA is authorized to provide flood disaster relief to non-insured homes and businesses ONLY if the President of the U.S. officially declares a flood disaster in the affected area.

Thus, the matter is intrinsically political. My guess is that, if the U.S. president is with one political party, and the state governor is with an opposing party, then the president may be less likely to declare a flood disaster unless the situation is patently obvious.

Of course, where the majority of the people in an affected area are poor and black, and where the federal administration is racist from top-to-bottom, then that may prove to be an exceptional situation.

[Michael Blackburn]

I'm glad to hear that a government agency with such a disasterous track-record is at least getting some things right. I drove through Iowa during some of the flooding, and I've donated to the Red Cross to assist the victims. It's really pretty bad there, but I don't think it's:
*A FEDERAL issue,
*A flooded basement qualifies as an EMERGENCY,
*A tiny check, regardless how soon provided, qualifies as MANAGEMENT.

[Aaron]

I'd agree with all three points and add:

Better for someone who actually needs the money and that will actually do something constructive with it (the reader) than for some of the Katrina displaced douchebags we have here to get it.

I know that sounds harsh, but with the crime increase my area has seen, and the general sense of entitlement some of these folks display, I just can't help it.

[marie]

Homeowners policies are written buy the government. Each company sells basically the same policy. State Farm's homeowner's policy (like all homeowners policies) does not cover back up of sewer and drain. however, most states sell an endorsement that will cover back up of sewer and drain. it costs extra and at least with state farm, there's a policy limit of $10k on the new endorsements. most people choose not to buy it b/c it does cost extra and the likelihood of it happening is so small. just wanted to let you know that you do have an option to have that peril covered.

Also, FEMA, along with most insurance companies, has a catastrophe team. I've worked that team with State Farm. We work crazy, long hours, (i've gotten as little as 2 - 4 hours sleep a night when the damage is severe [tornadoes, etc.]) and always at least 6 days & sometimes 7 days a week. that's one reason why there's such a quick turn-around. People are stressed and upset and we do everything we can to push to get the money to you quickly. Also, insurance regs are extremely strict about getting you the money in a timely fashion. with a catastrophe, there's a little more leeway, but the normal time is 5 days after an investigation is complete. i don't know what FEMA's guidelines are for payment, but in talking to them, i know they operate similarly to us.

[Jane]

I worked for FEMA for a month after Katrina as a borrowed federal worker (I work for another agency.) I'm guessing the biggest difference between the two is scale. Although both disasters were dramatic as seen on TV as far as scale for FEMA the Iowa flooding is much smaller therefore easier to manage. Talking to the FEMA full time employees (and there were not many of them) their number one statement was that FEMA at that time was not built out for a disaster as large as Katrina meaning # of people effected.