How to reopen your Sandy claim: Public meetings on Tuesday

“Most owners of storm-damaged homes are tired, angry, afraid or confused about the state’s Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation (RREM) Program,” asserted George Kasimos. “That’s why we’re holding a public information session on Tuesday, June 30th, with officials of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, which is responsible for the troubled RREM Program.”

Kasimos invited Shore property owners to the meeting on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. in the Silverton First Aid Squad building at 86 Maine Street in Toms River. A follow-up session will be held on specific details of reopening damage claims beginning at 5 p.m.

The Toms River resident is founder of the grassroots citizens organization Stop FEMA Now, and is urging storm victims to reopen their claims with both RREM and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Flood Insurance Program.

“It’s been 32 months since Sandy, and not enough homes have been restored. Too many people are still suffering,” Kasimos said. “Many are frustrated and lost their patience long ago. Many are losing hope and losing their life savings.”

The June 30th RREM meeting will include David Reiner, deputy commissioner of the state’s Department of Community Affairs, and Samuel Viavattine, director of the DCA’s Sandy Recovery Division. Following their public discussion with Kasimos, there will be a question-and-answer period with audience members.

“We thank the DCA for participating in our meeting and look forward to a productive conversation and continued open dialog about RREM and housing recovery,” said the Stop FEMA Now leader.

Among issues to be addressed are:

• Whom to call when a DCA adviser or engineer fails to respond to homeowners?
• What are specific instructions on how contractors are to bill RREM?
• If a homeowner did the work, why isn’t it credited as if a contractor did it?
• Why doesn’t the DCA release its “secret” price-list for approved work?
• What are valid reasons for time extensions, and can they be more than 3 months?
• Why is changing from RREM’s Pathway C to B so difficult for some, and often denied?
• If engineering costs are borne by owners, why don’t they receive engineering reports when moving from Pathway C to B?
• Why are Pathway C residents banned from their own homes?
• Why are some people getting $15,000 for “soft” costs in addition to the $150,000 grant, and others getting it only as a contingency?
  
• If a homeowner reopens his or her claim and gets additional money, will he or she be forced to raise the home?

After the 3:30 meeting with state officials, the 5 p.m. follow-up session will discuss exactly how to reopen damage claims. The Stop FEMA Now founder will advise property owners to seek additional funding because “those who were underpaid or denied have nothing to lose.” Kasimos will discuss RREM, what constitutes “substantially damaged,” duplication of benefits and the threat of “claw-backs” of payments received.

Stop FEMA Now recently held a public protest rally in Trenton about the slow pace and numerous problems with the state’s housing storm recovery program. Last year, with thousands of members in affiliated organizations across the country, the activist group pushed Congress to pass the Homeowners Flood Insurance Affordability Act. This year it successfully fought to have FEMA reopen flood insurance claims, after numerous underpayments were revealed, some apparently due to fraud by insurance companies.

Additional information is on the organization’s website, StopFemaNow.org and on its Facebook page,

www.facebook.com/groups/StopFemaNowNJ/