Tammy W + 6

Tammy; John, Sterling, Shelby, John Duke, Yancey; Little Joe

Email: tammy.walker @ rac.com

Location: Kiln, MS

Number in House: 7; 2 Adults, 4 Kids, 1 dog

Situation:
We’ve been through every emotion imaginable and every scenario imaginable. We had severe wind damage. – No payout from Insurance, and only given $973.00 from FEMA. Estimate to repair house is $13,000.00.

We have applied for all grants available but because we didn’t have flood, water, or surge in the house we do not qualify. We have become so filled with frustration, anger, disbelief, and anguish that we have considered just walking away from everything.

Financially we can not afford the repairs.

We were remodeling our home at the time of the storm and not only sustained damage to the house but lost all our materials we had stored. It took us a year to buy all our materials. We bought pay check to pay check.

FEMA of course would not even consider paying us for this loss. They said as far as the house damage they paid us based on the inspector’s report. Well, God Bless the inspector, but all he did was walk around my house. He didn’t go into the attic to see the damage to the ridge vents from all the trees falling on the house. He didn’t climb the roof to see that the structural integrity of the roof was so severely damaged that it was allowing water in the house.

Now I not only have a severe roof problem, but I have mold in my house. It’s all in the sheetrock in 3 rooms. Not to mention the loss of all our materials that we (at this rate) will probably never be able to afford to replace so we can finish our house.

I know some people had it and still have it worse off than us. And believe me we are so grateful for what we still have - but we deserve so much better for our children. We work so hard for everything we have. WE NEED SO MUCH HELP – but no one is there. We feel so alone

Help Received: FEMA Minimum, PA Family (Christmas 2006) , NY Family (Christmas 2007)

Current Living Arrangements: Tent, House (alternate living arrangements due to mold)

Needs:
Volunteer assistance with house.
Assistance finding home owner's insurance.
Materials for home.
Clothes for the kids:
Sterling – pants size boys 14 shirt – Medium – shoe/sock - 11
Shelby – pants size girl 16 – shirt large – shoe/sock - 7
John – pants size boys 6 – shirt medium – shoe/sock boys 12
Yancey – 3T in everything – shoe/sock – toddlers 71/2

Linda B + 2

Linda; Charles, Rick; Hank, Goldie, Bama, Rosie, Hannah, Buddy, Lilly; Spot, Momma Cat

Email: linda_byrd70 @ yahoo.com

Location: Biloxi, MS

Number in House: 3 human, 7 Dogs, 2 Cats

Situation: House is up for foreclosure. Linda was disabled in Spring of '06, but had no income until spring of '07 from SSD. Charles was self employed, but without health insurance and needed neck surgery. Has been unable to return to work.
The car has been repossessed, the house is going up for foreclosure and the electricity is going to be shut off.
4 of the dogs and 1 of the cats showed up right after the storm and have become part of the family.
Clothes and furniture were replaced, but that has been all.

Current Living Arrangements: House - for now.

Needs: Groceries, dog food, cat food, heart worm meds, flea meds, rabies vaccine, assistance with financing of tractor, house. Flooring.

Stores: Lowes (for home repair stuff); Walmart (everything)