FEMA seeks return of mistaken disbursements

Talk about it

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said it mistakenly gave disaster relief checks to over 400 Wisconsinites since 2005. And now, the agency wants the money back.

FEMA has written storm victims demanding that they repay $1.1 million – even if the agency made the mistake of giving the money to them. It’s part of a larger effort to collect $22 million dollars FEMA gave either by mistake or to those ineligible for relief as a result of 129 disasters during the last six years.

The agency’s request isn’t sitting well with some who’ve been told to “pay up.” Stewart Wells of Wauwatosa said he got $2,700 from FEMA last year to help pay for $60,000 in flood damage to his basement.

In his application, he told the agency he received $9,800 from his insurance carrier. FEMA said later that his insurance payment disqualified him from getting disaster relief – and he should pay back what the agency gave him.

Wells says he won’t do it, and he’ll let FEMA carry out its threats to garnish his wages and seize his income tax refunds. Wells said he would advise storm victims not to call FEMA for help because, “You don’t know what kind of a can-of-worms you’re opening up.”

Tags: wisconsin, government, weather