Appeal your settlement to the insurance company. They should base their
settlement on your $17,000 repair quote, not on the $14,800 repair estimate.
At the same time, appeal FEMA's decision. Was your area declared a "federal
disaster area"? If so, I believe you are entitled to a small grant from
FEMA even if they're saying your damage isn't "enough". From my
understanding FEMA wants to see what your insurance paid and will base your
eligibility on the difference between what the insurance paid and what it
will actually cost you to make repairs. Best of luck to you!

"JerryL" wrote in message
...
After Hurricane Wilma, I sustained a minimum of $14800 damage to my barrel
tile roof. After my deductible, the insurance company gave me 11535
(3265.00 deductible). My only income is from Social Security so I applied
to FEMA to help me pay the deductible. I read in the papers and heard on
TV how they were giving away $2000 debit cards to everyone in Louisiana
and Mississippi among other goodies. I understand that a lot of these
people are on Welfare but I also understand their welfare checks are
larger than my Social Security check which I have to live on. At first
FEMA referred me to SBA for a low interest loan. I appealed and explained
that there was no way I could repay a loan on my income. They then sent an
inspector down to verify my damage. A month later they determined that I
didn't have enough damage to justify them giving me any aid. $14,800
damage isn't enough damage to a person living on 1098 a month? Not only
that, the lowest estimate I have received to repair the roof is $17000.
I'm trying to get my insurance company to re-evaluate and give more money
towards the roof but the fact remains that I still have 3265 deductible
which I can't afford. I don't want to wave the flag or anything like that
but I served 4 years in the U.S. Navy, I paid taxes all my life and never
got anything for free from the government. What is the criteria the
government uses to determine who gets and who doesn't get? I have the
answer in my mind but I won't put it in writing.