FEEL GOOD: A Typical Case in an Atypical Situation

A Typical Case In An Atypical Situation

On February 2, 2008, a tornado ripped through Volusia County, Florida. A single, semi-retired woman living in a mobile home was a victim of this storm. Ms. X’s home was condemned. She received assistance from various helping agencies and was moved into a FEMA trailer as a temporary solution to her living situation.

VIND received her case from American Red Cross as one of its first tornado cases to come to the LTRT. Not sure how to assist her, VIND did accept the role of advocating for her recovery. VIND’s Rebuild Coordinator visited the site to establish if anything could be done to repair the existing mobile home. His report back was that it truly was beyond repair and rightfully condemned.

In July 2008, Ms. X was the first to be acknowledged by VIND’s Rebuild Review Committee as a recipient of a FEMA manufactured home through their sales program for non-profits ($500) which included delivery and setup (haul & install). A local church offered to pay for it and to fund four others as well. By the end of July, paperwork had been submitted to FEMA for the manufactured home replacement and funding had been procured through grants and/or donations to do the remaining work involved.

As the six month mark neared, calls began to come into the office from various organizations, agencies and even FEMA itself to ask why we still had a redacted client in a FEMA trailer whose needs were not being met. Phone calls and e-mails followed with explanations about her becoming a FEMA MH recipient.

American Red Cross stopped case management and no paper files were transferred to VIND. The access to the files in CAN was eliminated when ARC was done. Ms. X’s case management needed to be done over again, which was frustrating for all involved.

Then the Volusia County SHIP Manufactured Home program to replace 2004 Hurricane survivors opened up to Tornado survivors. Ms. X was visited with the paperwork to fill out and was encouraged to do so. She was also encouraged, since her lot was on a residential site and not in a park, to fill out the SHIP site or modular home application as well.

As Ms. X went through a hospitalization, she called for support. She was urged to seek counseling through Project H.O.P.E., which she had already made use of, but does so again before their program closes.

Monthly, FEMA’s case manager checks to see why VIND is still not doing anything toward Ms. X’s recovery.

Just before the holidays, FEMA notifies VIND that the MH sales program is being closed down due to the formaldehyde law suit. At an emergency staff meeting, VIND decides to visit Ms. X and urge her to fill out the SHIP applications, which she had chosen not to do. “The SHIP application is so much work and I really don’t need anything that new or expensive (free?), so I decided the FEMA home was what I wanted,” she states. Not wanting to upset her Christmas holidays, VIND does not remove hope, but rather offers continued advocacy on her behalf.

In January, VIND discovers that the SHIP program is about to close. No applications will be received after February 1 and case management must be completed before March 1.

Ms. X is assisted with the SHIP paperwork, and because of an illness, the paperwork is hand delivered by a VIND Recovery Worker at the county office.

Ms. X is turned down. She does not have clear title to her property.

This never came up in either ARC’s or VIND’s case management. Investigation finds the problem easily resolved, but too late for SHIP.

Still monthly, FEMA’s case manager checks to see why VIND is still not doing anything toward Ms. X’s recovery.

Finally, at the Governor’s Hurricane Conference in May, VIND’s Program Coordinator meets with a FEMA director and contract negotiations begin. Within a few weeks, a contract is signed for a replacement manufactured home. However, now it is a donation and VIND is responsible for the “haul & install” as well as maintenance case management for a full calendar year afterward.

As permit applications are being put into place, it is discovered Ms. X’s septic tank was damaged in the tornado. In getting bids for a repair, it is also discovered her well is not located on her lot, so she has no access to potable water. The good news? A group of volunteers cleared the last of her debris and FEMA’s case manager agreed to allow her to live in her formaldehyde riddled trailer until VIND can sort out financing all the added expenses to Ms. X’s project!

Is this just a bizarre set of circumstances? No. It has been the norm for all those with mobile home damage. (Luckily, 8 clients were able to be accepted by SHIP.) It is VIND’s policy to advocate for clients until needs are met. VIND’s staff is blessed whenever a client trustingly seeks out assistance and gratefully moves forward to recovery despite whatever circumstances occur. This is, after all, the story of Long Term Recovery!