Failed FEMA Appeal - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Failed FEMA Appeal

Soon after the 2011 Mouse River flood, the Federal Emergency Management Agency offered 'rental assistance' as a way to get the Magic City on the track to recovery.

It was that assistance opportunity that helped Chris and April Rivers get their family out of the emergency shelters.

Jennifer Thorgramson tells us how two years later, FEMA may now require the Rivers family to repay the debt.

The Rivers family embraced Minot at precisely the time the Mouse River was 'embracing' the valley.

The family of --- at that time, three --- moved in with the flood.

Alexander Rivers will be two in June, which means his birthday fell between the evacuations, making him one of the youngest evacuees, and certainly the youngest in the shelter.

(April Rivers, Berthold Resident) "...all the ladies in the shelter were following him around..."

Chris and April moved from southern Oregon in May of 2011, in search of full time employment.

(Chris Rivers, Berthold Resident) "This was the most promising."

While getting their feet wet in a new area, the family stayed with April's parents in a two bedroom rental house near Roosevelt Park Zoo.

When it fell to the flood, they turned to FEMA.

(Brian Hvinden, FEMA Spokesperson) "We can provide rental assistance funding to allow them to find another place to move."

The family was approved --- and found their footing with $500 a month from FEMA.

Through the summer of 2012, the Rivers --- no longer receiving rental assistance from FEMA --- were settling into their home in Berthold.

The financial problems of Oregon, and the flood problems of Minot were behind them... until the fall.

(Chris Rivers, Berthold Resident) "November of 2012, they sent me a letter of intent."

FEMA was asking for the repayment of $3,805 that the Rivers had been approved for and received over the course of six months.

(Chris Rivers, Berthold Resident) "The appeals process was denied and their initial decision was correct."

(Brian Hvinden, FEMA Spokesperson) "If we do find out that there's an incorrect payment, we are required by law to recollect those funds."

(Chris Rivers, Berthold Resident) "It was approved by them. And now they're coming back and saying it's more or less their fault for giving me money that I was not eligible for, but now I have to bite the bullet and pay them."

Rivers is contacting North Dakota senators about what he calls a mistaken approval in the beginning.

In Minot, Jennifer Thorgramson, KX News.

Hvinden says it's important to stay in contact with FEMA if you find yourself in the appeals process.

He says there are usually repayment plans that can be tailored to a family's needs.