Charles Glass
Twister victims too proud to ask for help
The one trend to emerge in the aftermath of the killer April 28 tornado here is this: many of those impacted by the storm are too proud to ask for help.
Perhaps folks are on to them...the feds are corrupt lecions just waiting to get their claws into our freedom. Way to go Lamar County....great volunteer effort...great effort in taking care of our own.
Pride is a double edged sword. I encourge people who have been affected by this disaster to seek help if you need it WITHOUT shame.
Some of your statements make me wonder if you remember what elected you. I hope you will go back and look again. I grew up here and we were always taking care of ourselves. Maybe you could learn that. Also, why so many statements that appear unfounded?
Obama = food stamp president (look it up)
A 3rd grader can write better then that!
Good Heavens truth on...you need higher education. ((GEZ)).
What?
FEMA denied in writing any assistance here, saying we had insurance after their investigation. Never mind the State Farm insurance adjuster has not arrived YET.
"I applied for FEMA over the phone and 2 people came to our devistated and non liveable home before the FEMA team set up here. I was DENIED assistance through FEMA because I do have insurance and NEVER ONCE has FEMA mentioned a deductible reimbersement, not once"
Yep, same for us. Just worthless government being worthless. The remarks by this Glass character reveal why local government is in the shape it is.
The Bible says you can keep your mouth shut and let people think you are stupid, or open it and remove all doubt. Mister Glass would do well to take this advice.
You didn't help your cause with the finger-pointing and lashing out.
I want a calm controlled person in office. You seem like you have an axe to grind.
You have to be willing to give your name and speak on the record. I already have one willing participant but need more.
If you are up to it, e-mail me at news@barnesville.com
How are your horses doing? We had to relocate ours that were at home when hit by that tornado and Sierra and I had to relocate as well and are still trying to get all of that done. They never even managed to get dumpsters in my area on Jackson Road even though I kept asking. It is a damn shame how most of us are being treated .. especially if we had the common sense to have insurance. If you need anything, please let us know. Colleen has my cell number. Marla
And, as far as the denials because of insurance, go check the FEMA website. It specifically states you will not receive FEMA assistance for anything covered by insurance. I would bet this is how they have operated for years. I totally disagree with it their policy but it has NOTHING to do with Mr. Glass, Barnesville, Lamar County or the tornado that ripped up this community.
I don't mind giving to the local relief effort but I want my money to go to the effort and not in some slush fund that helps pay for Buggy Days and/or BBQ & Blues or one of their various other alcohol soaked pet projects.
Walter, how about asking the tough questions and have the chamber officials show you exactly where the funds are going?!
This will get all of our Lamar County homeowners back on there feet. I will continue to help on Saturday cleanups and pray at Sunday service for a speedy recovery.
NO! I didn't post anything about New Orleans or Katrina!!! I stated that according to FEMA site, you should not shocked or upset that they don't give assistance for things covered by insurance. I also stated that I do not necessarily agree with that policy.
As far as Katrina, the only thing I KNOW personally is based on a friend's parents whose home was destroyed in Mississippi. They had insurance and were not given a FEMA trailer or other assistance. They used insurance money to purchase a fifth wheel camper and set it up for temporary housing. But, they did not go on national TV whining, complaining and blaming the gov't. What do you KNOW as fact about FEMA and those in New Orleans???
I understand some of you are angery but you are placing your anger on the wrong person. Blame the Federal Govt. It is set up to help those who have never paid their way for anything. Those who have worked and paid taxes always get the shaft. If you want to compair this with Katrina, look at the majority of people who needed assistance. Im sure they have received govt aid their entire lives. All of the entitlement programs need to stop. When that happens, maybe will all get treated equally.
If you have a job and are doing what a good tax paying citizen is suppose to do well, your out of luck. If you have no job and are on welfare and food stamps they'll rebuild your home with a grant. Those with a job have to go through the SBA and get a loan. The more money you make the higher the interest rate.
Red Cross was another lesson. I've never give to them after 94. You have to register with them first before FEMA. Then if they spent $10,000 and raise $100,000 well guess what. they just made $90,000. They will not give the "profit" to the victims.
This is how it was in 94.
Relief Fund.
They should take that $100,000 and divide it among the victims that lost their homes. County officials know who they are. The ones with destroyed homes not those that lost shingles or sheds.
Normally you won't hear me complain... But today I think I've had my limit.
Tornado took my house away. My insurance gave us a check for the mortgage, we did what the mortgage company told us to do and they still haven't paid off the mortgage and they have had it in their hands since May 10th. We can't even start to rebuild until we have a clear deed for the next mortgage Amazingly it's acceptable to roll us in the dirt a little more every day. I've had so many brick walls thrown up in my face I shouldn't have any teeth left. If it hadn't been for friends, family and churches we couldn't have made it. FEMA hasn't helped, somebody tell me why we have them? They spend more time telling me I am denied because I had insurance and insurance doesn't cover 8 acres of trees layed down on your property. Insurance doesn't cover bulldozing. Doesn't anyone understand that we lost it all. My income is too high even though I have NOTHING at all to show for it.Everything was blown away. Why does it magically seem that money must be flowing from somewhere to survive.
FEMA says they can't do anything until my mortgage is paid. Why? They had renters that didn't own homes that they helped with Rental assistance but since I have a mortgage I have to pay it off and have a letter of denial from my insurance company before I can be considered for rental assistance or to even help with the cost of chain saws.We could not get help because we were buying our home. We just lost our house and all of our belongings. At what time would you think someone would need help? Would it be then or 3 or 4 months down the road? You will like this, before they will help with the chains saw... guess what... I have to have the papers from the mortgage company saying that my mortgage has been paid for and that it is clear. Amazing. Everything hinges on getting that piece of paper that the Mortgage company doesn't care about sending me anytime soon. I assumed when I overnighted the paperwork and check to them so they would have it on May 10th that it would all be handled quickly like at our local bank. Nope. They put it in escrow and acted like we never told them anything. So I didn't send the May payment in ( they now owe me) So they were very gracious and sent us intent to foreclose papers for being late 30 days. I had to call an attorney. My husband paid May and june so we wouldn't be in foreclosure, still haven't heard from them. They told me that it would be in July sometime before they settled with us. 30 days from the 1st of June and then and additional 10 days for an overages to be paid. That means I won't be able to even think about building until Late July.
FEMA called me the other day to tell me they still didn't have the paperwork from the mortgage company and then went over our request.
Now this is FEMA,they go to disasters, right? He asked my why did we get a generator? I said well, There was this tornado that came through Barnesville on April 28th about 1 am and it took out our house and we had no electricity and we had to use power tools to try and secure the sight.
Then he said, Why did you get a chain saw? And I said There was this tornado that came through Barnesville on April 28th about 1 am and it took out our house and we had 8 acres of trees layed out on our property, house , yard and driveway, roadway. We had to move them.
Then he asked, Why do you need replacement for eye glasses? And I said There was this tornado that came through Barnesville on April 28th about 1 am and we woke up our grandaughter at 12:55 and she didn't grab her glasses when she came out of the bed while trying to take cover to keep from dying from the tornado and The tornado blew our house away and her glasses were in it.
I tell you all of these brick walls are getting very tiresome. I am mentally exhausted.
There are numerous forms to sign and fill out. Be careful what you sign even for the Small Business Administration. There are a few things in print that you really need to read.You have to be willing to surrender ( assign) all of your insurance proceeds to them first.
There is no one that seems to be able to say yes to anything.
Is there no end to this Tornado Hell?
I am ready to just walk away from it and leave it all alone.
I don't even like to go back to the property with all the crap we have to go through to get anything done.
The people on the other end of that phone don't care, they really don't care. It hasn't happened to them yet.
They don't know of the long hours of cleaning up and going through the rubble. Being to exhausted to sleep. Can't hardley put one foot in front of the other.
The only way I can describe it is that I am in mourning and the pain is deep. Only those that are going through this know what I am talking about. I know God will see me through it and he will. I couldn't have made it this far if he were not there to hold me in his hands. I wish others didn't feel the need to kick and roll us around in the dirt again.
Cathy, I agree with ANON, I would like to know who the mortgage company is since I would like to phone and email them to let them know that I think their business practices stink.
So sorry for all your trouble, you and your family are in my prayers.
I lost a total of $14,000 or more in personal property due to water and mold damage. Our home is still under repair on the inside. Let me paint a picture for some of you...It was raining hard inside our home. Nope our home was not totally lost, but we are still in need of help just like most others. Disappointed to know some of you don't seem to think we need any help from the relief fund. Cathy said it right...Nobody will fully understand the needs we all have unless they have been through this themselves.