Hurricane Fay came through Tallahassee and flooded many homeowners out during the weekend of Aug. 22 in the Timber Lake subdivision.
Valerie White, a professor at Florida A&M, is thankful that she is not like some of her neighbors that now face homelessness in the wake of Fay.
“His house has to be gutted in fact they have to move out,” White said about a homeowner down the street from her.White said that she did not sustain much damage beyond her garage.
“The garage walls have to be torn down and redone,” White said.White said her biggest worry is what she can’t see.
“My main concern is getting the mold out,” White said, “so it doesn’t spread to the rest of the house.”
The repairs can’t start until her insurance company does their part.
“My insurance adjuster came out but I haven’t gotten any feedback,” White said.
White who has flood insurance with Harleyville cannot apply for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. She was informed that she couldn’t receive assistance if she already has coverage for her home.
Amanda Bicknell, FEMA public affairs officer, said residents of Leon County should report damage to FEMA since it has been declared that the county is eligible.
“The main (phone line) for an individual is 1-800 621- FEMA, or 1-800-462-7585.”
If an area has not been declared a disaster area, but a storm does pass through the proper procedure would be to contact the local emergency management director.
Bicknell said there have been reports and rewards made in Leon County in regards to damage.
“In Leon County, as of the end of Sunday, we had 514 registrations, and we approved $421,828.”
When a resident contacts FEMA to request assistance they are sent an information packet that includes an application for a low interest loan, provided by the US Small Business Administration.”
Kristalen Davis’ property was also damaged in the storm and still remains under water five weeks after the storm.
“The front yard receded but the backyard is still flooded,” Davis said.
Davis said that she reported the damage to FEMA, but was denied.
“We only had property damage and none of the physical home was damaged.”
Davis said the estimate she has gotten have totaled $10,000 so far.
Bicknell said once the water has subsided on Davis’ property it can be reevaluated.
“She could have been denied for a number of reasons,” Bicknell said, “that doesn’t mean that it’s the end. That means it’s something we need to go back and reevaluate.”
To get further information on programs provided by FEMA go to www.fema.gov.