A handful of people have weighed in about my column in today’s Gazette about receiving a FEMA check for damage to my basement after my sump pump failed. They have called me names, said I have no right to accept such a check and tell me to give it to people who really need it.
I’m not surprised the column raised some peoples’ ire. The point was to let readers know that FEMA has been responding (my check arrived two weeks after the June 12 flooding), that you may be eligible no matter how much damage you received and that I know the damage I suffered isn’t nearly as bad as that of many flood victims.
To clarify for some of the respondents — I’d been monitoring my sump pump since it began running in April for the first time since I moved into my house in 2001, I thought my insurance would cover damage if the sump pump quit working, I’m not anywhere near a flood plain but am in one of the lower houses in my neighborhood and I’ve heard from other people including co-workers who have faced the same problem.
And then there’s the big question: Isn’t one of government’s major roles to be there to help citizens when they need it? I mean, I’ve been paying taxes for almost 40 years. We’ve had the rainiest first six months of a year in the history of keeping records, meaning the soil has been super saturated. The nearly $1,500 I received doesn’t cover the $2,500 this episode will cost me. That $1,500 isn’t even a drop in the bucket compared to the billions of dollars that will be headed Iowa’s way.
I’ve seen enough damage in the last few weeks to last a lifetime. I hope everyone in Iowa who suffered flood damage receives the assistance they need.
8 Comments
July 3, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Well, I’m not too happy with you either. Good that you got your cash, you’re out $1k or so still. Golly, what a loss! But just grab what you can. We’ve been displaced for 3 wks. now and it looks like another 3 wks. before we “may” get permission to move back home. My wife’s business got washed away. My employer too. We’re lucky, we “only” lost $25k so far.
Guess what FEMA and insurance pays us? A grand total of $731. So if you’re wondering why some people might be upset with you, try to understand.
But, I really detest your last statement. What idiocy! Complete lunacy! Billions are coming to Iowa so I’m glad I got mine. Good for you, pal!
No, actually you don’t deserve the money. If you had any decency at all, you’d contribute a like sum to a local charity.
July 4, 2008 at 6:15 am
This is a Catch 22 of sorts…No point in being mad at Dave, or insinuating that he doesn’t “deserve” the FEMA money. He doesn’t make the rules, and he didn’t cheat or lie to get the money. He followed the steps outlined, and waited to see what he got.
After all, in reality no one really “deserves” the federal money any more or less than anyone else. It’s a handout, offered and accepted, by all sorts of people from all walks of life, in an extreme circumstance. If all the Daves in the area had NOT filed a claim, LESS money would be available for everyone else, because that’s the illogical way that socialist programs like FEMA work. The more people who file a claim, the more money they come up with to spread around.
Don’t blame Dave because FEMA made a seems to be making unequitable decisions.
To Dave I would say this…”and then there’s the big question: Isn’t one of government’s major roles to be there to help citizens when they need it?”…the answer to that question is a resounding NO. ABSOLUTELY NOT.
**Article IV Section 4 of the US Constitution…The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a REPUBLICAN Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened), against domestic Violence.**
Individual freedom, Individual responsibility, states rights…need I go on? Nothing about the government stepping in and handing out money to individual citizens is aligned with the underlying principles of the United States.
So….if even one person feels that the they are deserving, and should be allowed to take government money in any amount, to make up for their personal losses, then so to, can Dave…because this is America, where the rights of the individual are paramount.
July 8, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Dear Dave,
I’m so glad you got yours. As for my wife and I, we have a exterior retaining wall that is now falling because of the heavy rainfall. My mother-in-law is now living with us because her residence was destroyed as well most of her belongings. Our electricity went out on a Thursday and was out for three days.We had to purchase a generator so we could have fans as she is elderly and can’t handle the heat very well. FEMA came out and took all the information and would be in contact. We received their decision, in a letter, a few days later. WE GET NOTHING. I guess an old adage may have come into play here,” It’s not who you know- it’s who you ….! I’m retired and on disability from back surgery so we are not rich but we sure could have used 1500 dollars to help out. At least you got a new pump and that’s so very important so you can save your big, fancy house. Americans, pretty much, make me sick. I’m a veteran who served honorably but I’m not that proud. I fought to keep people like you free and that pisses me off. ENJOY YOUR NEW PUMP.
July 9, 2008 at 5:31 pm
???
Once again, why direct so much hostility at Dave?
Did he personally somehow persuade FEMA to turn down select people? NO.
Did he make the laws/rules that Guide FEMA? NO. Did he take money that would otherwise have gone to someone else? NO.
Dave is just a guy doing his job, and follwing the rules…not a secret decision maker who waves his hand over the rich and says yes, and over the poor with a no.
Americans make you sick because FEMA ’s response to you doesn’t suit you? How does that work sir?
Did you appeal your FEMA decision? Because you can, you know.
Did your mother-in-law get assistance? because it seems like she’s one who should have applied and been approved, unless she was over-insured.
If you fought to keep this country free, what should be pissing you off is the fact that our freedons are vanishing before our very eyes under the guise of handout programs like FEMA that come with all sorts of stipulations REGULATING everything you do in life.
July 11, 2008 at 3:15 am
I agree with Deb about government. It’s nice that government is there to assist people who truly need it, but where do you draw the line?
It’s kind of like insurance, which used to be pretty much a safety net for catastrophic illnesses but then evolved into coverage for most everything, including simple doctor visits.
As these things progress, it’s understandable that people will just put their hands out and wait to be taken care of — and the premise of personal responsibility just flies out the window.
It just gets to the point where people expect too much. Heck, I was even astounded when the families of 9/11 victims were paid settlements by the government. Isn’t that what life insurance is for?
I have no quarrel with Dave. The FEMA money was there for him, and he took it. I just question whether it should have been there.
July 22, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Dave, I understand what you are saying but it doesn’t “hold water” with me. “Your” $1500 IS a drop in the bucket, but there ARE people out there who will get no money from FEMA that truly NEED it. And there are people out there who will get money but not even close to enough to cover the cost of losing a home that had no flood insurance and has a mortgage to pay. I know you personally and know you are a good person, I just don’t think you should have accepted the money or even asked for it. And you certainly didn’t need to tell readers of the Gazette that you got it just to show that others may be eligible for assistance.
I also question if the money should have been there for you, because I have heard stories from others that were deep in the water that are getting nothing from FEMA.
January 22, 2009 at 6:49 pm
but wouldn’t it make sense for fema to start on the edges, and make their way into the hardest hit regions? Why tell this person, who’s house was under 7-8 feet of water “yes we’ll send you money”, when it is a good possibility that the house will be torn down anyways. And as for the writer of this article, his resourcefulness is what got him the money. He didn’t just sit with his hand held out. Do your homework, people…
April 10, 2009 at 4:59 am
Do you all know there are different grants,loans,insurance etc. that FEMA may provide?
for example Dave may have had Flood insurance, while some of you others may be looking for individual assistance..which by the way has to be declared by the president. Or are you all just raging?
Before you get cocky my house was just destroyed in a flood, lost about everything its in a more rural area of North Dakota and I doubt we will get individual assistance, I have flood insurance but it appears the checks are non negotiable so its a total
for me and in less then a month we will be homeless..and a lot of my neighbors…but dont worry all, were not getting any of the precious Fema money you all can have it. I too am a vet and disabled..so what? no one cared then or now, in fact afterwards I was attending college on the GI bill and they took it away from us….private institutions take away retirements all the time too.
As Scar said in Lion king”Life’s not fair”
Personally I’m pleased Dave got some money, I’m
glad for any one who did. Another thing even flood insurance is merely underwritten by fema its still your homeowner insurance, dont think so look on your fema policy,who is your agent? Know what I learned about floods? there totally unbiased.