Natural Disasters, Experiences shared by victims and survivors.

We are sharing with you our experiences with the federal disaster assistance agencies. We'll guide you the best we can. We'll attempt to update our guidance promptly when homeowners report changes to federal and state programs.

As new policy is created and old policy is updated or eliminated we'll bring changes to programs to your attention.

We have several grassroots programs which can help you if you interact with them. Don't think for a moment recovery will come knocking on your door. You have to go out and make it happen.

We'll help you build your advocacy group as well as help you with becoming a positive change activist.

Some groups you might be interested in.

Restore LA Program Info Exchange Focus: HUD CDBG-DR Grants, State Grantees, SBA DOB related to HUD Grants. Focus on HUD Recovery Grants and local state policies.
(Private Facebook.Com Group in Louisiana all are welcome.)
Stop FEMA Now Focus: FEMA Recovery efforts, SBA Disaster Loans, Long term recovery focus on Super storm Sandy Victims. (Public Facebook.Com Group based out of New Jersey.)
SBA Disaster Recovery Loans Learn who should not apply. Learn what the SBA will do to approve you. Learn about low income homeowners without credit being offered loans by using their homes as collateral. Learn the truth about the SBA lending practices and how some homeowners would never be able to repay the loan.
(National group focused on SBA Disaster Loans and what the true costs are.)
Homeowner - Contractor Focus: Helping Homeowners self contract and manage their own hiring and firing of workers to get the job of recovery completed. We share our experiences and share our processes.
(Public Facebook.Com Group for homeowners managing their construction projects)
Disaster Recovery Reform Act (DRRA) Focus: Disaster Feedback in relationship to Congressional Representatives actions for better recovery processes. This is a mix of federal policy with homeowners feedback related to federal disaster recovery policy.

Proposed / Needed Groups:

State of XX HUD CDGB-DR Grantee: We need individuals that have time to administrate and moderate local groups focused on your state agencies that distribute HUD CDBG-DR grants. We will assist you with your setup and help you keep up with HUD policy as well as forecast what move your state will make within the program. We'll teach you how to be your states "Watchdog" to reduce government waste and to help guard against fraud against the American Taxpayers.
(Groups by state for HUD CDBG-DR Grant award assistance. Groups need to form before FEMA - SBA applicants are started.

Notice describes the requirements to prevent duplication of benefits applicable to LA,TX,PR,FL,NC.SC,NE,CA etc
Murray Wennerlund

NOTE: Highlighted and linked text is to provide additional resources and to bring your attention to select sections that we have covered in previous months here at Truck And Tools .Com. This is HUDs clarification of Public Laws 115-123 and 115-254.

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1,565 Louisiana homeowners may lose $58 million in CDBG-DR grants because they are moving to slow.
Murray Wennerlund

If you were awarded a grant and accepted that grant you must close out on that grant with all required documents by July 31, 2019 or your grant award will be taken away from you and your household. This is only for those that have been offered a grant.

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May of 2017 started like any other May with the Third Appropriation Scenarios that seemed logical at the time.
Murray Wennerlund

When you review the document published here youll see from the beginning that the program did have a clear mind and was focused on saying they would help as many people as possible. But what happened over the 2017 year that ended hope for many victims?

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East Baton Rouge is awarded $11.25 million for Disaster Mitigation Planning and Design work.
Murray Wennerlund

It was 1953, DR-3, Floods in Louisiana, study shows water runs toward the gulf. Then in the 70s, 80s, water still flows the same direction with ponding along the way. In 1991, engineers hired to study how to dig a ditch 12 miles long asked for more money

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Road Traveled How to work the National Flood Insurance Program to REDUCE Homeowner Recovery DEBT.
Murray Wennerlund

This is a series of posts that Ill be sharing designed to maximize your recovery by careful planning and knowing what to do and when to do it.

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eGrantsPlus 4.2 Restore Louisiana Homeowner Assistance Program Grant Policy Changes side by side view
Contributor

eGrants Award Instructions dont change often but when they do you need to know what changed and you need to read your grant instructions. You may not be aware of all the policy rule changes that may place you as ineligible anytime during your recovery.

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Dec 15 2017 ...what do you think the odds are of DC granting us relief from the SBA loan...
Contributor

In a short quick email just after Congressman Graves announced his first failed attempt at fixing the SBA issue we have the State of Louisiana OCD-DRU and a Task Force member who asked the odds of Washington D.C. helping on this issue. Researched Emails

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Email Discussion of Cong. Graves letter to Gov Edwards re: Comite River Diversion Canal
Contributor

When Paul Sawyer Chief of Staff at Congressman Garret Graves asks if any FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Funds or any HUD Community Development Block Grant funds can be used on the Congressmans Comite Diversion Canal the efforts are great.

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One legged amputee told by State Office of Community Development you will have no wheelchair walkway to home.
Murray Wennerlund

Misty Hopkins received a HUD CDBG-DR Grant for the replacement of her condemned old manufactured home. The new MHU was setup, but the location is 280 feet from any surface she can navigate with her wheelchair. Restore Louisiana says No to wheelchair path.

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Question FEMA and your states Emergency Management people about applying for SBA Loans.
Murray Wennerlund

HUD CDBG-DR Grants will help you with your long term recovery and not add to your current household debt like an SBA Disaster Loan would. Loans from the SBA have to be repaid if taking by a homeowner. Grants do not have to be repaid. Learn the truth.

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