Contesting your Substantially Damaged Classification after a disaster. FEMA Verified Loss FVL or local municipality determination.

Published 3-17-2019 search group

To contest any Substantially Damaged (SD) classification based on FEMA Verified Loss (FVL) or your local municipality do the following.

Have a contractor write you a quote for repairs that are less than 50% of the fair market value pre-disaster.
Provide a recent appraisal of the value of the home that puts repairs below 50%. If your appraisal is not high enough have a realtor offer a market value pre-disaster in writing.

Take this information to you city / parish / county planning and zoning office and they will waive your Substantially Damaged classification and issue you a repair permit.

On a final note, if you learn about HUD CDBG-DR Grants and have a substantially damaged home you may qualify for a grant that may fully fund the elevation and reconstruction of your home. This is important for you to determine now before you ask to cancel your SD classification. (Note: If you are in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) your flood insurance will go up if you don't elevate above your last major flood stage, some here that elevated are paying $350 per year while others are over $5000 per year.)

We have some information on this and our group Restore La Program Info Exchange has several members that waived the SD and several that are using the SD FVL to reconstruct a new home.

We have online information here, look up under FEMA and OCD-DRU for more information. PM me if you need specific details.

I have some information about NC and FL recovery because of the contractor here in Louisiana. If you need to put together a group specific for your area I would suggest you do and share your experiences. Your state, FEMA, OCD, HUD CDBG-DR will offer you little information. Talk to those that know. Read our Task Force meeting notes.

Good Luck! Keep the Faith and reach out to others like you are doing here at Facebook Group Stop FEMA now !!!

https://www.truckandtools.com/disaster/default.asp

Contribute when you can.

For some households, the information I provide helps them get back in their homes. Others I've had a hand in helping them recovery from some of their disaster debt burden. In any case, when you use the information I provide and it's helpful and makes you more successful with your disaster rebuild or new construction then feel free to contribute what you can and when you can. It helps with the hours of unpaid research and reading.

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170 research topics

No inspection from FEMA? Registered and reported Minor Damage but able to live in my home? Only Remote Telephone Inspection? Home Repair Funds less than actual repairs?

#454 published 12-27-2022 updated 3-4-2023 1 min. 9 seconds read, search group Inspection.

If your manufactured home was damaged or developed unhealthy living conditions after a declared disaster due to the disaster can I receive a grant to replace my mobile home?

#443 published 1-23-2023 updated 3-4-2023 1 min. 26 seconds read, search group Manufactured Home.

Restore Louisiana Homeowner Assistance Program will provide assistance to homeowners who need to demolish and reconstruct their disaster damaged home.

#449 published 1-14-2023 26 seconds read, search group Damage.

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#1 published 12-30-2018 updated 12-12-2020 1 min. 55 seconds read, search group HowToResearch.

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#241 published 4-23-2020 1 min. 9 seconds read, search group PSA.

SBA Updates data processed from research between 11-2019 and 12-2019

#183 published 1-18-2020 3 min. 25 seconds read, search group SBALoans.

CDBG DR Award calculation letter determination on the eligibility of your grant.

#182 published 12-26-2019 2 min. 42 seconds read, search group GrantAwardLetter.

Federal Disaster Assistance

When you are navigating the federal disaster assistance agencies your first stop should be to the TruckAndTools.Com Disaster Resources. Every disaster agency uses the same process but not every disaster agency follows strict policy and guidance. Don't go into your disaster recovery with blind trust of your federal and state agencies that are leading the push to get you sheltered and out of the program.

State of Louisiana Restore LA Program managed by the OCD-DRU says it will not pay interest on SBA loans.

#181 published 12-15-2019 2 min. 40 seconds read, search group HUDGuidance.

Understanding your SBA Phase and following the HUD disbursements of funds to pay off or pay down your SBA loan

#180 published 12-10-2019 3 min. 34 seconds read, search group SBA.

Questions for Congressman Graves Live Facebook event 12-5-2019

#179 published 12-5-2019 4 min. 24 seconds read, search group Transparency.

170 research topics

Homeowners Disaster Recovery and Debt Reduction Assistance Handbook eBook and Website

By Murray Wennerlund 10-19-2023

Providing Guidance for Managing Financial Burden after a Disaster.

Restore Louisiana Homeowner Assistance Program Extends Application Deadline to Tuesday, Oct. 31

By Murray Wennerlund 10-11-2023

If you know someone who applied for HUD CDBG-DR Grants and was invited to complete the application process please send them a reminder, call them, tell them Ill help them complete the application if necessary. Dont let GRANT funds go to the state!

General Contractors and Residential Builders are missing out on $157.25 to $168.00 sqft builds!

By Murray Wennerlund 9-29-2023

General Contractors snubbed 2016 flood victims when asked to construction new homes at 108/sf. Today the same builders are not responding to 157.25 plus per sqft, why?