By now, many residents in Pontiac have received checks from the Federal Emergency Management Agency or FEMA.

A FEMA representative says the average amount awarded to Pontiac Victims has been between $2-3,000.

Some victims are satisfied with what they received, while others feel they weren't given enough.

When the river washed through Rose Keith's front door, it not only destroyed her home and everything in it, but it broke her heart. Keith was leaning on FEMA to help mend it...

"It's kinda like I got one check, I haven't heard from them or talked to them since," said Keith.

Keith's house is covered by flood insurance for $40,000. The contents in her home are a total loss. FEMA awarded the Keith's $1,210 to help with temporary housing. And that amount surprised her, especially since her son received $5,000 for his damaged floors.

Aaron Keith was surprised too.

"If I got the money I got the money, it didn't bother me."

Aaron Keith and his mother live in different circumstances...Aaron does not live in a floodplain and does not own flood insurance.
Rose who does live in a flood plain does have flood insurance.

"How much insurance a person has, if they have homeowners insurance versus flood insurance, that's gonna make a huge difference," said Hannah Vick of FEMA.

FEMA representatives say every case is individual and there are many variables that will determine how much someone receives in funding. But to give you a comparison...this is Rose Keith's house, they received a little more than $1,200. The lady across the street received five–thousand–dollars in funding, next door to her the homeowners were given $2,200, but they do not have flood insurance and that may have played a factor. Next door to the Keiths the residents got nothing, but they're renters and that may have played a factor as well.

But what price can you put on a broken heart. Ask Rose Keith.

"This will be gone and I have nothing to put in it".

Hannah Vick of FEMA says they are working with Keith on her case.

Victims who are not happy with what they received from FEMA can appeal their cases.
You can fax an appeal letter to 800–827–8112 or call 800–621–FEMA for assistance.