Rutland, Vermont - September 21, 2011
Laura Barnes sifts through 30 years worth of books in her driveway. She has to throw them all away.
"Some of them have been out of print for 20 years, I can't replace them," she said.
Barnes says the books are the least of her losses.
"The washer and dryer, it was our linen storage and our clothing, so my son and I lost 95 percent of our clothing," Barnes said.
She didn't have flood insurance when Irene hit, and lives above the flood plain in Rutland, but she did receive some help from FEMA-- $9,000 worth.
"It at least got us back in the house. It isn't enough to replace everything or even start to replace everything," she said.
"We're only coming in and giving disaster grants to things that are essential to basic human needs. If you've lost your bed, quite naturally, if it's not covered by your insurance company that's something that could be covered by us," explained Victor Inge of FEMA.
Marie Anderson did lose her bed, along with almost everything she owns. She doesn't have insurance and only received a $53 check from FEMA.
"I expected to be able to replace my bed maybe. That really didn't do anything," Anderson said.
Reporter Susie Steimle: How about a washing machine?
Victor Inge: If a washing machine is deemed as an essential element of their home, it's possible they may qualify to have the washer replaced.
But Laura Barnes says the while the $9,000 she received did help, it wasn't enough to cover her washing machine because the other damage was more severe.
"There was over 200 buckets of mud pulled out of the basement," she said.
Barnes received more than most Vermonters. While the maximum grant FEMA can give out is $30,200, the average grant hovers closer to $6,000.
In all, 5,271 people have applied for assistance in Vermont. The highest number of applications came from Windsor County with 1,444, then Windham with 1,116, followed by Washington at 930 and then Rutland with 824.
FEMA officials say comparing your assistance to your neighbors doesn't help.
Steimle: So it is possible that one person could lose their washing machine and that could be deemed essential, and their neighbor could lose a washing machine and that could not be deemed essential?
Inge: No two situations are the same.
There are currently 11 disaster recovery centers in Vermont. FEMA officials say if you're dissatisfied with your grant or have been denied one, you should give them a call or show up at one of those 11 locations, you may also file for an appeal.
Click here for more on how to apply for FEMA assistance or call 1-800-621-FEMA.
Susie Steimle - WCAX News
