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:cry:
Okay, as some of you know, I lost everything I had thanks to Katrina. However, I was able to be one of the first 300 to sign up for a FEMA trailer (luck and timing). It took me weeks to get the electricity to my trailer, I had to pay to have the temporary power pole put on my lot (and have since learned that FEMA was supposed to supply the pole).
Last Monday (Columbus Day) some fellow named Vince who allegedly works for FEMA called my cell to let me know he was in the area and needed to inspect my trailer. He asked that I call him back and I would have BUT HE DIDN'T LEAVE A DAMNED NUMBER.
Later that day, some fellow with a clip board came to the trailer to inspect the trailer. He said that they needed to verify that the water, sewer and electrical connections were done properly. Now, mind you, I had to get a permit from the City to allow me to have the trailer on my lot and I had to get the licensed electrician to put in the temp power pole and then certify to the City that the power pole was properly installed and that he was a licensed electrician. (He had to get an electrical permit to put in the pole.) The City inspector had to come out to check the power pole and my trailer. Once the pole and trailer passed the City's inspection, the City then called the power company to tell them it was okay to turn on the power. So I have been inspected. However, since FEMA had to inspect as well, I walked around with the FEMA inspector and let him do his thing. When he was finished, I asked if he needed me to do anything or sign anything and he said "no".
Later that evening, I checked my voice mail and I had yet another call on it from Vince. I returned Vince's call and I asked Vince if he was the one that had been on my property, inspecting my trailer. He said "no". I asked him if he needed anything else from me, he said "no, not if someone has inspected my trailer." So, silly me, I thought I had done what I was required to do.
Well, Thursday comes along and I am in Gulfport, trying to help a friend get a rental car. My cell rings and my neighbor is on the other end. She has called to let me know that two men in a pick up truck were looking around my lot and trailer. Since the insurance adjusters like to do sneak attacks, she thought the men might have been from my insurance company. I asked her if she would let me talk to one of the men and she graciously handed her phone to one of them.
The man said his name was Rex and he was with Vince and they needed to inspect my trailer and get my signature. I explained to them that someone had already inspected my trailer and that I was not able to get to the trailer at that time. The man offered to sign the form for me, but I told him that I was not inclined to authorize my signature on forms that I had not read. I told him that I would meet him at my trailer at 6:00 p.m. that evening and they agreed.
Well, 7:30 rolled around and no sign of Vince or Rex. Then 8:00 o'clock and finally, when 8:30 p.m. rolled around, I called the number that Vince left on my cell phone the second time he called on Monday the 17th. Vince told me that they couldn't work past 7:00 p.m. and he couldn't make it to my place. After asking why he didn't call me to cancel our meeting and/or to arrange another inspection, I arranged to meet him Saturday at my trailer at 9:00 a.m.
Well, you guessed it, neither Vince or Rex showed up on Saturday. Saturday evening, after waiting all day for someone from FEMA, I borrowed a friend's car to go get some groceries. (My car wouldn't shift gears properly and I have an aversion to driving on the interstate in 2nd gear, but that is another story for another day.)
When in the grocery store the phone rings and a woman identifies herself as a FEMA rep and proceeds to ask why I had not yet allowed the inspectors to inspect my trailer. I calmly explained all that I have typed above and I told the woman I would like to talk to a supervisor and lodge a formal grievance. She took my complaint and told me that Rex would be at my trailer on Monday morning at 8:00 a.m. I hung up with her feeling relieved that I was finally able to lodge my complaint and that I had a definite time when someone was to be at my trailer. But .....
You guessed it, no one showed on Monday either. Rex did call me at 7:30 a.m. to say he would be there, but he didn't show.
Then comes Tuesday and a call from Jessie with FEMA. He wanted to come inspect my trailer. I explained to him that the trailer had been inspected and that I had been dealing with Vince and Rex and someone said I needed to sign papers. I told them how they had stood me up every time I set a time to meet them. He was very understanding (??) and apologized for the confusion. I told him "Please come Jessie, I need to get this done and will happily meet you at 6:00 p.m." Jessie assured me that he would call me if he couldn't make it.
So Tuesday, I rush to my trailer and I patiently wait on Jessie. Jessie does call me at 6:15 p.m. to let me know that he cannot make it from Long Beach to Biloxi in that period of time and he would have to cancel. I explain to him that if he has been at the office in Long Beach he easily could have made it if he had left at 6:00 p.m. I told him I was from the area and I know that the drive on the interstate is not an hour long. He told me it would take him an hour and a half to inspect the trailer and he couldn't work past 7:00 p.m. I told him to check the paperwork and he would see the trailer had been inspected and all he needed was my signature. I also told him I had trouble understanding how walking around a 30 ft. trailer, inspecting the sewer, water and electrical hookups and the tie downs could take an hour and a half.
I asked to speak to a supervisor and/or for the name and number of a supervisor and he said he couldn't give me that, he would be fired. I asked that he have his supervisor call me. He said he would. Okay, you get the picture now, he never inspected the trailer, his supervisor never called and I awoke on Wednesday wondering how many FEMA calls I would receive that day.
No calls came yesterday, not a peep from FEMA. For a day, I wasn't tormented, or so I thought. I have developed a head cold and when I got home, I took some sinus meds. I fell asleep on the lovely foam coach in my FEMAnsion during that doofus show about the aliens that comes on after LOST. I awoke to someone knocking at my door at 10:15 p.m. When I asked through the door who it was, the voice responded "This is Derrick with FEMA." I loudly told him through the door that they weren't supposed to come out that late. He proceeded to tell me the bit about inspecting my trailer. I was groggy and angry, so I opened the door and demanded his FEMA identification. He showed me his driver's license and his buddy went back to the truck. (I guess he knew not to mess with me.) I grilled the fellow and he coped to the fact that he was not with FEMA, he was with the group that installed the trailers for FEMA and he had a report that the sewer needed to be fixed and the tie downs corrected. We walked around the trailer, he made notes on his official forms, I told him I wanted to talk to a supervisor, he radioed his supervisor (?) and low and behold the supervisor couldn't be reached. After his inspection he left, but of course, I didn't sleep well.
So this morning, I awake at 6:00 a.m. with my agenda of things that I have to accomplish. I still have a head cold and am taking meds, but I make it out of the house and am trying to take care of things when I get a call from William from FEMA. William is at my trailer to inspect it. I proceed to tell him all of my FEMA woes and that I am considering filing a harassment suit given the late night inspection I had to endure last night. I tell him not to move, to stay put and that I would be right there.
So I head to my trailer and am stopped by the city police. The officer cautiously approaches my car and I hand him my license. He tells me he stopped me for not having a tag and I explain to him about losing my car in the storm, having to go to Mobile to buy the car I now have and that I am having trouble with the title and paperwork regarding the title. He asks for the paperwork and I tell him it is not with me, that I am headed to my trailer to let the FEMA folks inspect it. I assure him that I intend to go get my tag after I have met with the FEMA fellows. He goes to the back of his car and a second police car pulls up, so now two police cars with blue lights flashing have me stopped on the side of the road at a very busy intersection. The partner of the first cop tells me that he will write me a warning ticket, then he gets the VIN and calls it in. I guess I look like a raving maniac or car theive, as I sit in my car crying with frustration. After SEVERAL minutes, the first cop comes back with a work order ticket and a ticket for not wearing my seat belt. I ask him if that is the most important thing he has to do today, he tells me to drive safely and I leave.
I get to my trailer and there are the two FEMA guys. I am in tears and explain again my frustrations and dilemma and I beg them to inspect the trailer and let me sign whatever documents I need to sign. William writes up a report about my frustrations and the late night visit, he lets me talk to his supervisor and he gives me his phone number as he tells me to call him if anything else comes up regarding the inspection or the FEMA trailer. I thank him for his kindness and for getting the job done and I leave.
Not 30 minutes later, Roy with FEMA calls to tell me he needs to inspect the trailer. I ask for his name and number and I in turn call William and ask him to let Roy know that my trailer has been inspected.
Then I go to the tag office to get my tag. If I get my tag, I don't have to pay the ticket for not having a tag. I wait in line for 30 minutes and when it is my turn, I give the lady behind the counter my bill of sale, the title from Alabama and an Affidavit stating that dad had given son the automobile and therefore the son could sell it to me. I also give her my driver's license and the car tag that I had recovered from my flooded vehicle. She looks over the papers and then asks who I am. I show her the license and the tag and explain that is who I am. I show her that I am the person that bought the car from the son that received it from the father. She chews her gum and pops a some bubbles and tells me that I don't have the correct paperwork. I explain that last month, shortly after I bought the car, I tried to get my tag and her office had told me that I needed the affidavit from father to son. At that time I asked if they had a form and I was told "no". I asked them how should the affidavit read and it was explained to me that I had to have a sworn statement that dad gave son the car since the title reflected that dad was the owner of the car. I further explained that I called their office twice to verify the contents of the affidavit, once before I prepared it and the second time after it had been prepared, before I sent it on to the seller of the car. She repeated that it was the wrong paperwork and that I should have used their form, to which I replied, there was no form, I was told I was on my own. By this time, I am so frustrated I can't stand it. I ask the clerk that is popping the gum for her supervisor.
The supervisor comes over and I explain it all to her, but she tells me I should have used their form. By now, I am irate, the sheriff's deputy comes in the room and stands guard to make sure that I don't do any harm to the clerks. I ask for their names or employee numbers and they both turn their employee badges around so that their names are not visible. They tell me I am not entitled to that information. I remind them that I am a tax payer and they are county employees and they work for me. They refuse and the deputy inches closer. At this point I decide that I am not in the mood for jail, so I tell them that I will be in touch with the County Tax Collector and will lodge my complaint directly with him.
So, I now have no car tag, a work order ticket that requires I get a tag, a ticket for not wearing my seat belt. I also have to look forward to repairs to be made to my sewer and tie downs and another FEMA inspection to verify that the repairs were made. My clutch is still not working right on my car, Winston has to have surgery on the other leg and I have a horrible head cold and am tired of trying so hard.
So how has your month been? :shrug:
:cry:
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