Surratt has no plans on backing down from FEMA
By JIMMY GALVAN Managing Editor

While most Jasper County residents have placed Hurricane Rita firmly in their rearview mirrors, Rayburn Country's Lewis D. Surratt has a new battle to fight.

It's not with any damage caused by the storm but by the aftermath that was left by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

And like his battle with the 2005 storm, he is not about to give in to the federal government.

"My plan of action with them is not give them a penny back," Surratt said. "When you mess with the federal government, they have a lot of power. I busted my butt 11 years ago to buy this home and now some letter from the federal government is telling me this is not my primary residence…well, that's enough to make any old dog mad."

Surratt, 69, received a letter in the mail from FEMA three weeks ago informing him his case was reviewed and he has to return the $2,000 given to him "immediately."

The letter from FEMA said the organization had determined that his home in Rayburn Country was not Surratt's primary residence.

One problem. Surratt has been living in Rayburn Country for the past 11 years in the 1600 block of Beachrock Drive.

"The only home I have is my home right here," Surratt said. "How did they determine that I have another house?"

He also has received notice from FEMA that his appeal of the decision had been denied.

Second problem - Surratt hasn't filed an appeal as of yet.

FEMA officials denied a request for an interview on Surratt's case but instead forwarded a press release on the recoupment of assistance distributed in the 2005 hurricane season.

The press release states "FEMA conducts home inspections and post-disaster audits to catch cases that demonstrate a duplication of benefits or incorrect payment."

The release states FEMA will charge two percent interest per year starting from the date of the first letter asking for a recoupment of the money.

"If the debt is not paid in full or a satisfactory repayment agreement has not been entered into within 90 days of the first notice, a penalty of six percent will be assessed on unpaid principal, interest and administrative fees," the release states.

Surratt believes the federal government is picking on elder residents because three neighbors in the area received a similar letter from FEMA.

"Two of my friends, 72 and 77-years-old, received the same identical letter," Surratt said. "It looked like a carbon copy.

"I just think they are using scare tactics on us elderly people to get their money back," Surratt said. "We know our federal government is in shambles about half of the time anyway but it was disturbing for all of us to receive this same letter a year and a half later."

He said he called the FEMA office and finally was able to talk with a representative on the phone.

"I told her to tell me where my other house was at?" Surratt said. "Because if I have another one, I'm going to sell it and maybe I would have $2,000 to pay them back."

He said FEMA representatives have requested information from Surratt that would show the residence is his.

When the storm hit, Surratt and his wife evacuated to Houston and he signed up with FEMA for reimbursement costs.

"We left after the storm hit, with no power and it was getting hot so I had to get the older folks out of my home," Surratt said.

When Surratt returned home nine days later, he found out that FEMA had deposited $2,000 in his checking account due to his mandatory evacuation from Jasper County.

"I probably spent about that much driving my parents to McKinney and then to Houston," Surratt said. "I came home and started my cleanup and I felt good that the government was assisting us a little bit.

He said after returning home a FEMA inspector who said he was there to inspect his roof for damage approached him.

"I had inspected my roof when I got home and found no problems," Surratt said. "I just didn't feel like I needed any more FEMA assistance so I told this guy that he was wasting the government's time and my time.

"There were people with worse needs than me and I told him as far as I was concerned, I didn't need any more help," Surratt said.

His opinion of the federal government quickly changed three weeks ago when he received a letter from FEMA.

He said he stepped up after the storm and donated to hurricane relief funds for people at churches.

"I don't know how much I donated up here but it was what I could afford to give," Surratt said. "I didn't ask the government for $2,000," Surratt said. "And now, a year and half later, they are telling me that they want it back. To me, that is where the battle began.

"This federal government is harping on this old boy who has faithfully paid his taxes, raised three children and finally retired and now they are on my butt," Surratt said.