Friday, August 20, 2010

Milwaukee Officials Collecting Data Of Flooded Basements Used As Sleeping Spaces For FEMA Appeal To Get Individual Assistance

Photo: July damaged flood home at N. 19th Place, residence of Emantha Peavey

By H. Nelson Goodson
August 20, 2010

Milwaukee, WI - Governor Jim Doyle and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett are appealing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) denial of individual assistance. FEMA declared it will provide assistance for damaged schools and public properties, but did not grant assistance for individual assistance. Milwaukee city officials are partnering with non-profits, community groups and neighborhood associations in doing a survey of basements used as sleeping spaces. FEMA denied individual assistance to the July 22, severe flash flood hit North central Milwaukee neighborhood areas. They denied assistance because basements are not considered sleeping spaces and they only provide aid for first floor flood damage, according to Mayor Barrett.
The city needs to get appropriate data to show that basements were used as sleeping spaces. No one conducting this survey will enter your home, but an official from FEMA may have to enter your home to vertify damage at a later date. Since, your signature on the survey serves as an affidavit of damage.
City officials began collecting data on Friday at the City Hall rotunda (200 E. Wells St.) from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and on Saturday, August 21 from 9 a.m. to noon. The survey data will show FEMA during the appeal process that individual damaged basements were used as sleeping spaces.
About 95% of homes in the City of Milwaukee have basements, where the water heater, washers and dryer appliances and heating systems are installed. Compared to Southern states and cities who don't have basements in homes.
For more information about the FEMA survey, call you alderman at 414-286-2221.

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