Originally Posted by
Jon Randolph
I realize that it is a little late now, but with all of the areas in Indiana that were recently flooded it would have been nice to have already had this completed. I really wouldn't have had any expeses other than fuel because I can get to most of the areas with less than an hour drive.
I went to PB's web site and they don't even list the Indiana flooding.
As soon as it is declared a "national disaster" then then FEMA sends out the contracts. PB and PARR are the ones who will likely get them. They "flip-flop" them between the two and if the disaster is too big then it can go to both.
Being close to the area does not mean you will be deployed in that area. Local folks(in the same state or area) are seldom sent. They pull inspectors from outside the impacted area. The reason for this or so I have been told is that they don't want any personal conflicts or friendships between the inspectors and those who have a claim. Another reason is that they don't want anyone who might have a claim doing the work because they might bend the rules due to the fact that they have been in the same postion as those who are making a claim.
When Katrina hit Mississippi and distroyed over 1500 home (removed them from their foundation) and over 200,000 folks in MS had FEMA claims, the contractors did not use anyone from MS at first. I was in the center of the mess in Jackson, MS and I never received a call. When I called to offer my services (PB), I was told that I would be sent to TX to help with the damage from Rita. I did not go and stayed in MS working with the Southern Baptist Disaster Services for 11 days cooking meals in a portable kitchen that could serve 50,000 meals a day. I felt like helped more by providing meals than by approving FEMA disbursements.
