Teh One Who Knocks
06-14-2011, 02:20 PM
Letter says Godsey family's leveled home deemed safe, damage cited as "minor"
By Nick Banaszak - WHNT News 19 Reporter
http://i.imgur.com/hz2Lj.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/GNjO1.jpg
HARVEST, AL— A Harvest family whose home was leveled by last month's EF-5 tornado now says they are dealing with another headache thanks to FEMA.
The roof on Scott Godsey's home is now gone along with most of the walls, but according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the house is still livable.
Godsey said he learned of the jaw-dropping decision after FEMA sent him a letter over the weekend, informing him his application for housing assistance was denied because the home was ruled safe to live in. The letter also stated the damage as "minor."
http://i.imgur.com/k7NpE.jpg
The family said they immediately called FEMA and were told that a mistake may have been made, but several follow-up calls by Godsey to the agency have yielded no further information. He was only told to reapply, with a decision likely not coming any earlier than 30-45 days.
"They've said the house is livable, but it's clearly not, and they've pretty much washed their hands of us," said Godsey. "I know there's other people out there in far worse position than we are, and if they're being treated the same way we have by FEMA, this is a farce."
A FEMA spokesman told WHNT News 19 he was not aware of the situation, but would look into it. The spokesman said it's possible a mistake may have been made, but did not answer our questions as to why or how a mistake of that magnitude could be made.
By Nick Banaszak - WHNT News 19 Reporter
http://i.imgur.com/hz2Lj.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/GNjO1.jpg
HARVEST, AL— A Harvest family whose home was leveled by last month's EF-5 tornado now says they are dealing with another headache thanks to FEMA.
The roof on Scott Godsey's home is now gone along with most of the walls, but according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the house is still livable.
Godsey said he learned of the jaw-dropping decision after FEMA sent him a letter over the weekend, informing him his application for housing assistance was denied because the home was ruled safe to live in. The letter also stated the damage as "minor."
http://i.imgur.com/k7NpE.jpg
The family said they immediately called FEMA and were told that a mistake may have been made, but several follow-up calls by Godsey to the agency have yielded no further information. He was only told to reapply, with a decision likely not coming any earlier than 30-45 days.
"They've said the house is livable, but it's clearly not, and they've pretty much washed their hands of us," said Godsey. "I know there's other people out there in far worse position than we are, and if they're being treated the same way we have by FEMA, this is a farce."
A FEMA spokesman told WHNT News 19 he was not aware of the situation, but would look into it. The spokesman said it's possible a mistake may have been made, but did not answer our questions as to why or how a mistake of that magnitude could be made.