Harvey and my mother in law's house in South Houston

[Sean Haardt]

Hello BP community. Thanks in large part to BP, I purchased my first duplex this summer in Western Maryland. I look forward to helping others on BP reach their goals as I have been helped. But I urgently need advice and help again. My mother in law has a home in South Houston which is in one of the worst areas in terms of total rainfall and her home had a foot of water in it. She did not have flood insurance. She is staying with us in Maryland helping to raise our 14-month-old daughter and has not been able to get a flight due to airport closures. We finally were able to get someone over there to take pics today. It is indeed inundated with mold and a bad smell everywhere. It is going to have to be gutted. I'm trying to help her decide if it is worth rehabbing the place or selling. I hear FEMA has individual assistance of up to $33,000 but I don't know how much she will qualify for. Does anyone 1) know how much FEMA may help her, 2) have any advice on how to proceed as far as the speed and order to gut and begin rebuilding and still qualify for FEMA assistance? She needs to gut the place quickly as mold is growing daily. I also need contractors with references.