Block grant phone lines swamped, Web site down

The Sun Herald | 04/11/2006 | Block grant phone lines swamped, Web site down: "In Jackson, Hamilton said the MDA expected a heavy call load on the first day and said he hopes it will dissipate as the week progresses. He suggested that callers try the early morning hours or after 5 p.m.

'We knew there was no way to hire enough people or have enough lines to handle 40,000 on the first day,' Hamilton said.

'It will just take time.'"

Dave was one of the fortunate few who managed to get his call to go through Monday morning. We have an appointment for next Monday, April 17th. The official instructions tell us to fill out an online application before arriving at the service center for our appointment -- but the same official instructions also state that online applications will not be available until April 17th.... A few words later is a link for an 'application worksheet' which looks suspiciously like an application to me... I am a little confused now, but I noticed the cited news article mentions a packet (presumably including the application) will be mailed to those who have appointments. Er.. Now we'll have to see if we get a packet before Monday.

My guess is that what they meant to say -- is that beginning Monday, April 17th, people will be able to complete an application online which will then be available in the service center computer system at the time of your appointment...

In the meantime - I have printed out an 'application worksheet' for my own amusement.

Dave and I have gathered our receipts for 'structural repairs' completed so far (note: the Block Grant Program provides for structural repairs only -- no contents) and have neatly sorted them into a three-ring binder. The total so far stands at just over $29,000 -- not including the ineligible and elusive do-it-yourself labor figures. We have received just under $26,000 from insurance and FEMA for structural repairs....

Throw some confetti -- we are officially in the hole.

We have spent the last two weeks trying to gather estimates for the remaining repairs. Our contractor has promised to try to drop off his written estimate sometime tomorrow afternoon. The suspense is giving me an ulcer.