In recent years we have seen varying news broadcasts regarding “historic floods.” The narrative is always the same; the location is always different. From South Carolina to Nebraska we have all watched as historic flooding has become somewhat of a new normal. We have all listened to the victims of these historic floods speak about their catastrophic losses and their hope of rebuilding for the future. But for many of these victims, the hope of rebuilding for the future is met with red tape, countless hurdles, and lengthy delays.
For anyone paying attention to local news you are aware that Louisiana flood victims have been delayed and denied flood benefits by HUD. However, Louisiana victims are not alone, victims in other states are feeling the same defeat and/or idleness.
In September of 2018, the Post and Courier, a South Carolina based newspaper drafted an article detailing issues that South Carolina victims are faced with after the state’s 2015 flood. The article details the slow process of receiving recovery grants. J.R. Sanderson, the Director of South Carolina’s Disaster Recovery Office categorized the grant process as “extremely complex stuff.” Greg Pearce, a South Carolina Councilman stated, “this has been the most complicated process we’ve ever dealt with, and I’ve dealt with federal grants for 20 years.”
The article later discusses how the recovery grants comes with “strings” and mentions the duplication of benefits provision.
The article states, “officials have to prove the homes were damaged by the specific storm for which the money is dedicated. Officials can’t duplicate funds people already received from flood insurance or FEMA, and the federal government requires people rebuilding within a flood plan to purchase flood insurance – a high hurdle for many low-income residents.”
HUD’s duplication of benefits provisions are extremely problematic and are a violation of current law. No victim placed in these circumstances should be burdened by hurdles and delays to receive benefits already allocated to them. HUD should do what’s right and let victims everywhere rebuild their futures and get back to their own American Dreams.
Source: https://www.postandcourier.com/news/disaster-money-can-take-years-to-reach-sc-homeowners-affected/article_15353f24-c31d-11e8-bff4-1383ce27526e.html[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]