It has been a difficult summer for me. My house was damaged in the June 23 flood. I thought that FEMA would help me repair my house but they only gave me $2100 and that doesn't begin to cover the damages. I have cried more this summer than I have cried in my lifetime.

I was told by the second FEMA representative that came to my house to get contractors estimates for repairs and file an appeal and after that apply for a SBA loan and if SBA denies me ask FEMA for help for third time.

It sounds good in theory but I am having lots of difficulty obtaining estimates becauses contractors are very busy with widespread damages plus when I had a HVAC guy here four weeks ago he said he would send me an estimate by email (that he never sent). He does not return my voicemails. I think when he saw how small my crawlspace is he thought he would rather take easier jobs than mine.

I called the SBA department of FEMA to make sure I haven't missed a deadline and I was told that my income was too low for a loan. What?! The people who need it most don't qualify because we our income is too low. I asked if I could get a cosigner for the loan and initially they said yes but then said no. I was told FEMA had "locked me out" of a loan and was told to call a FEMA supervisor. Monday I was told they would email my request and a supervisor would return my call; they didn't.

To top if all off some of my family do not understand my situation. I told my dad I did not qualify for a loan because of my low income and he said, do you think maybe your income is too high? Sure, dad, I am on disability income and my son lost his job because the bridge washed out in the shopping plaza where he worked at KMart, we are rolling in money.

I have had donations of food, water and cleaning supplies and had volunteers remove my muddy, wet insulation but I have no money for repairs. Money was tight before the flood and now it is very difficult and I don't know what to do. I had applied for a job in the nearby library but did not even get an interview. I cannot stand for long intervals so going back to my career in nursing is unlikely.

I am overwhelmed.