I was not prepared for THIS aftermath...Any thoughts?

[lightd]

Just after Katrina swamped my home, with water to the roof-top, I went to the Tropics board and was given some very helpful information by S2K members. I have been in a hotel, 500 miles from home. I have limited internet access, but have been constantly watching the news while I make phone calls to my insurance company, FEMA, mortgage company, etc. I feel that I did everything right, except move out of the New Orleans area before a major storm hit us. I tried to get my family to move after the 2004 hurricane season, but they have lived there since the 1930s, didn't want to move, so I decided to stay. Home was secured, all preparations were made. I actually packed luggage and had everything ready for evacuation on the first day of June. My family thought I had gone crazy, but I saw the 2005 predications, read all of the S2K member's posts, and was very frightened. My worst fears were realized. Not only did the eye of Katrina pass right over my home (in St. Bernard Parish), the levee system also failed. I checked our Parish website, and they had posted that "the entire area was under water, 8 to 20 feet...Seek employment elsewhere...you will not be able to return to your homes for months, if ever". Now, I have many problems that I must resolve, and I don't know what to do. For years, we have paid a small fortune for Home & Flood insurance, and they are telling us to contact FEMA until they decide what to do. FEMA is providing some assistance, but why am I dealing with FEMA when I have a flood policy and loss of use coverage on my homeowners policy that was supposed to cover my living expenses while we are displaced? My husband's company has relocated him, since we cannot return to our home, so we must find a place to live. This means that we have a mortgage payment on a home that has been submerged for a week, plus continue the home & flood policies, then pay rent at our new location. To make matters worse, they will not extend insurance coverage to the new location, so we also must pay for renters and flood insurance here. Has anyone experienced anything like this? Another huge problem has just surfaced. Initially, we were told that our homes would be uninhabiable. Our area is being completely ignored by the media, but it is just as bad, if not worse, than New Orleans. I know that many suffered at the Superdome, and in the city, but there were no rescues in St. Bernard Parsih until the end of last week, and many of our residents were left to die. There are dead bodies, dead animals, chemical spills from nearby oil refineries (the list could on forever), and I'm sure that most of you have heard how bad the water is in New Orleans. Now, they are telling us that we might be able to clean up and rebuild. I am at a loss. Woudln't you assume that our homes should be completely torn down after sitting in this condition for days? Won't our soil be a toxic waste ground for years to come? And, even if the EPA says it is safe, I would have a hard time believing them. I don't want to rebuild, but if the insurance companies decide it's not a total loss, than what am I to do? We have a lot of equity in the home, so we can't just abandon it if they won't settle with us. I'm so sorry that I'm just rambling, and throwing out some "what ifs", but the stress is really getting to me. We have lost everything that we worked so hard for, there are no answers from the agencies that are supposed to help because "we are in a very unique situation, and decisions are still being made, and the rules are being changed every day". I did everything that I could do....had proper insurance, prepared my home and my family, evacuated early, made contact with all the agencies and companies, relocated, found new employment. I can't continue to sit here and do nothing while they change their minds on a daily basis. I do realize that it's only been a week since this happened, but this "unique situation" and "no one expected this type of aftermath" is really making life difficult for people like us. If you have any suggestions, comments, or advice please share them. What would you do under these circumstances?

[Shoshana]

The only thing I can suggest is to find a lawyer to help you wind your way thru the mess. Maybe thru your husband's job, or maybe thru a volunteer organization in the town you are now in.

I hope you find the assistance you need quickly. I'm sure other people here will have good advice for you...

'shana

[MBismyPlayground]

I am glad to hear that you made it. Survived this ordeal.
There are a few insurance people here in the forums, plus people who have been thru it. They may able to give you a little advice. Stay tuned.

[Zadok]

prayers are going up now - in the mean time:

GET A LAWYER ASAP!

FEMA CANNOT BE TRUSTED
More than 140 victims of the 2003 tropical storm Isabel are suing Homeland Security Undersecretary Michael Brown, David Maurstad, who runs the National Flood Insurance Program, 17 insurance companies and others charging that these officials conspired and knowingly paid claimants far less they deserved to repair their flooded homes and properties.

The NFIP insureds' lawsuit, which also cites Computer Sciences Corporation and independent insurance adjusting firms, was filed June 8 in United States District Court in Greenbelt, Maryland, alleging that the group conspired to defraud thousands of catastrophe victims who had purchased flood insurance through the federal flood program.
http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/ea ... /55854.htm


Many more lawsuits aganist FEMA are underway!!!

On June 8, 2005, a multi-plaintiff action was filed in United States District Court on behalf of more than 140 victims and alleges a conspiracy between high ranking FEMA officials, Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC), seventeen insurance carriers, third-party administrators, third-party adjusting firms and others.

In March 2004, after learning of widespread problems of low-balling within the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), the Senate Banking Committee directed FEMA to conduct an independent evaluation of more than 24,000 Isabel claims. Despite the directive, rather than conduct an independent review of the low-balled claims, FEMA assembled a Task Force comprised of many of the same adjusters and adjusting firms, and all of the same management, that originally low-balled the claims in the first place.
http://www.femainfo.us/legal_actions_fraud_suit.shtml


Good Luck and God Bless!

[Lori]

My heart goes out to you, the tragedy,suffering,loss of property, and life in St. Bernard Parish is beyond words .
I thank God that you and your family are safe and that your husband was able to keep his job. Next step is to find a place to rent. After being waterlogged for several days your house is not structurally sound, and should be condemmed. Resolving the insurance claims may take awhile. From what I've heard and seen, St. Bernard Parish is a continuing hell,people dead and dying. May God comfort you and give you peace.
I'm praying that all things will work out well for you.
God Bless You

Lori

[pup55]

This means that we have a mortgage payment on a home that has been submerged for a week, plus continue the home & flood policies, then pay rent at our new location.

I can't imagine being in your situation. Our thoughts go out to you.

Also, I am no expert, but no one else is an expert either, because no one, even the insurance company, has ever been in this situation before, where so many dwellings were destroyed at one time.

After having said that, it seems kind of senseless to continue making mortgage payments on a house that you are not sure is still standing. The worst case scenario is that the mortgage company will try to foreclose on it, but they will be unable to do that until your parish government is back to some level of normal operation. All of this is going to take some time, in the meantime, you need the money to survive, so you need to survive. It would be useful to know what kind of condition your place is in. If you have not heard from the area, it is probably not going to be good news (sorry).

What you should probably do is have a conversation with somebody at the mortgage company and tell them, look, we need the money, and you are not going to get your mortgage payment until I am sure I have a house left, and see what they say.

Also, I think as long as your FEMA insurance was in force on the day of the disaster, you should still be covered, and should probably not have to continue to make payments to that. At some point, there will probably be an announcement as to how these claims will be handled. But, the poster above is right, there is a lot of subjectivity on the issue of how much is going to be paid out versus how much your property is (was) worth and you might not be particularly happy about what you see. The silver lining is that everybody else down there is in the same boat, and if you wanted to buy another place, you might be able to get one cheaper than you would have normally.

So, if I were you, I would concentrate on moving forward, finding a comfortable place to live, minimize expenses and maximize income, and let FEMA and your mortgage company know where you are. I know you are thinking about whether or not to move back, but that will have to wait until some of the reconstruction gets underway.

Others may have different opinions.

[Lori]

Unfortunately you still have to pay your mortgage. If you don't the mortgage company could foreclose and you would lose your equity and the mortgage company could get the insurance money also. Contact your insurance company-you should be able to get a couple thousand to help you with immediate expenses. Lots of folks here in Florida have lots of experience with homeowners insurance.

[soonertwister]

I'm sorry, I can't imagine a mortgage company going to the time and expense to foreclose on a ruined property, on land that may be worthless for a long time in the future, possibly forever for all practical purposes.

I agree that a lawyer is needed, and if the mortgage company was to actually try to foreclose, I believe that you would certainly be able to get an order blocking that action.

Hang in there, things may be bad, but I believe that they will get better before too long. My heart goes out to you and all others who have suffered such losses from this storm.

[schmita]

Thank God you are safe.

Now, from practical experience (9-11) first contact your mortgage company. Ours suspended our mortgage WITHOUT any fees indefinately. When we were able to move back in, we paid our mortgage as if nothing happened, no penalties. Your mortgage company is well aware of the situation. They may have resources for you to follow as it pertains to your insurance issues.
Be very aggresive with FEMA. I was constantly banging heads with them, first they sent us a check for $800 to rent a one bedroom in Manhattan!! I had to patiently explain the unreality of their allotment. They increased the monthly rent stipend.
In the days to come, specialized groups will form to help with all these different things. Some will specialize in mortgage payments or rents. Be aware of all organizations being formed and apply for all if time allows you to.
Save everything, news clips, forms etc.
Good Luck with this. I understand how hard it is to do these things while all you want to do is cry.
irina

[soonertwister]

A quick suggestion regarding limited internet access...

Having net access will prove invaluable in researching what things you can do to help your situation out. Find a nearby coffee shop that has free internet access (many of them do) or a local public library.

If a coffee shop, explain to the manager or owner your predicament, and I'll bet they'll do anything they can to assist you in providing access. And a public library will spare no effort to make sure you can find the resources you need.

There may even be a local bank that has free internet access available in their banking lobby. Once again, ask for help and you will very likely get it. People want to help you, many feel somewhat powerless to assist right now in any way other than cash donations. They'll be more than willing to help.

[melhow]

Unfortunately you still have to pay your mortgage. If you don't the mortgage company could foreclose and you would lose your equity and the mortgage company could get the insurance money also. Contact your insurance company-you should be able to get a couple thousand to help you with immediate expenses. Lots of folks here in Florida have lots of experience with homeowners insurance.

I saw on another board an adjuster who said that in some instances your content insurance can be cashed out quickly to you for you to live on in addition to your loss of use coverage. So say you have $80,000 content insurance. Your adjuster might be able to get that part of your coverage to you straight away. It might not be totally ideal, seeing as that $$$ should be to buy you new stuff, but it might help if you get into the situation where you are running low on your loss of use $$$ and you need to continue your mortgage payments.

In response to some other posters who made the assumption that your lender will not insist on mortage payment being made, don't count on it. This is not meant to be a rub-in-your-face in any way, but as an FYI there is additional insurance called Homeowner Disaster Relief that you can pick up that will pay your mortgage, tax, and insurance premimums in the case that your home is deemed uninhabitable. If at any time up to 2 years your dwelling is considered a loss, than that insurance would pay off the outstanding balance on your mortgage. I picked my disaster relief insurance through Assurant. Also, as a sidenote, the loss of use coverage on my policy, which is through Citizens, covers 10% of my total insurance. For me, that means if I was out of my home, Citizens would pay my husband and I $13,200 total for loss of use. Not a lot of dough in my opinion...

I feel just awful for you, and I hope that everything works out in the best was possible for you and your family.

[schmita]

Melhow,
What's content insurance? Is that the insurance for the stuff in your house like furniture, stereo etc.?

Does your place have to be declared inhabitable to get that?

Thanks
irina