FEMA has declared homes in Alabama that were completely destroyed and flattened by devasting tornados just over a month ago as "not unsafe to live in,"with "insufficient damage," and therefore, families have been denied federal emergency assistance.
Daily Mail has more with powerful photos:
Displaced families in tornado-ravaged Alabama are outraged after being denied federal aide to rebuild their flattened homes - due to 'insufficient damage'.
Jefferson County resident Jonathan Stewart said he laughed in shock after the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) claimed the house his family lost in the deadly April 27 twister was 'not unsafe to live in'.
The devastating reality is the house is now a concrete slab surrounded by rubble.
Mr Stewart told AL.com a FEMA inspector saw first-hand the Pleasant Grove residence he shared with his wife, Lisa, and their two children was ripped from the ground.
Three days after the visit, however, he received a letter reading: 'Based on your FEMA inspection, we have determined that the disaster has not caused your home to be unsafe to live in.
'Although the disaster may have caused some minor damage it is reasonable to expect you or your landlord to make these repairs. At this time you are not eligible for FEMA housing assistance.'
FEMA deputy branch director for individual assistance Lynda Lowe said finding of insifficient damage are often correct, and many of those who filed for assistance did not have damage.
FEMA officials encourage whose who believe they were wrongly declared ineligible to file for an appeal through local disaster recovery centres.
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Quite a different reaction to natural disaster victims from FEMA than what we saw in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. This is yet another, "What would people be saying if Bush were president?" moment.
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