Some Flood Victims Say FEMA Is Leaving Them In The Dark
AURORA, Colo. (CBS4) - Some say there's not enough money to help all the flood victims who need it. In Aurora there are homeowners who say they're being left in the dark.
It's been more than two weeks since the flooding in Aurora and homeowner Susan Hamada is dealing with black mold removal, a cracked foundation, and now bad news from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The water is long gone from the Hamada family basement, and so is the mold, but not the smell. The home flooded multiple times, costing thousands of dollars in damage.
"We had to tear up the carpet, drywall, everything," Hamada said.
Hamada lives in Arapahoe County, qualifying her for FEMA help, but this week she learned just how much help she'd get.
"We got an email and they told us we'd be getting like $200, and that was it," Hamada said.
She's not alone. In the same neighborhood lives Candice Carter, whose basement also flooded. She learned she wasn't getting anything.
"People who might have been denied funding for this also have the right of repeal," Thomas Kempton from FEMA said.
Kempton said the situation is not uncommon and FEMA guidelines have to be met. Assessors look at live-ability.
"Is this a house that could be repaired? Or is it a house that's so heavily damaged that it's a threat to the person to continue to live in it? Kempton said.
FEMA has already given Colorado flood victims $32 million in disaster grants. Kempton added that many may qualify for help from the county and people can always apply for disaster loans.
"Anything that's uninsured or underinsured, we can offer them a low interest loan, below 2 percent," Garth MacDonald with the U.S. Small Business Administration said.
But for homeowners like Hamada, who is thankful her damage wasn't worse, she hopes for other flood victims the help that comes will meet the need.
"There are more needs than what they're doing for a lot of people," Hamada said.
Colorado Floods: How To Help
The recent floods are impacting families and communities throughout Colorado, so CBS4 has compiled a list of ways you can support the local communities impacted by the floods.
