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A meeting for tornado survivors to ask questions of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Monday night was moved from the Pleasant Grove City Hall to a nearby church after more than 100 residents crowded a too-small council chambers.

The meeting began at 5:30 p.m., but was halted minutes later after some of the residents who sat in chairs and lined the walls inside the room said that the overflow crowd standing out in the hallway couldn’t hear federal officials speaking about disaster relief aid.

The complaints prompted Mayor Jerry Brasseale to consider rescheduling the meeting. He then moved the crowd of about 150 people to the parking lot for a meeting and then shifted it to Bethel Baptist Church.

“I wasn’t expecting that many people,” Brasseale said later.

While Brasseale worked hard to keep Monday night’s meeting orderly, many of the attendees expressed frustration and confusion at FEMA’s response to their aid applications. They said they were following FEMA’s request to fill out applications even if they have insurance.

‘Insufficient damage‘

Jonathan Stewart, who underwent surgery for a shattered collarbone after he and his wife were tossed about 50 yards from their Pleasant Grove home by the tornado, said he believed the application process was “a huge waste of time and taxpayer money.” He drew applause.

Stewart said his application for FEMA aid was denied, with one of the explanations citing insufficient damage.

“That’s asinine,” he said. “I don’t have a house. There’s nothing there. It’s gone.”

Stewart said he has full coverage, but worried about so many residents who do not.

In all, nearly 200 people turned out for the session with city officials and agency representatives, said Denise Everhart, a FEMA spokeswoman. The questions ranged from the proper way to remove debris to whether FEMA would pay for cars damaged. In many cases, FEMA will pay for damages to one family car and not recreational vehicles.

Brasseale stressed before the meeting start that it was an informational session.

“We’re not here to bash anybody,” he said. “We’re here to help.”

Questions and worries brought Pleasant Grove resident Chris Gardner and his cousin, Kim Hamel.

Hamel, who came from Houston to help Gardner, wanted to know from FEMA what kind of grants he could receive.

Life among ruins

Speaking on his behalf, Hamel said Gardner, who does not drive, draws unemployment and is trying to live in the ruin of his home, in the 900 block of Seventh Street, which is surrounded by felled trees.

She said what little insurance he has would likely go toward paying off the loan on his home now that he has received a demand letter from the bank for his mortgage to be paid off.

“He has nothing,” she said.

Hamel said she was told he could apply for a Small Business Administration loan. That was unsatisfactory for her.

“He can’t afford a loan,” she said. “My heart just bleeds for all of these people out here.”

David Holte suggested FEMA take the words “denial” off the letters, which could be frightening to the elderly who have been wiped out by the tornado and receive a letter.

FEMA officials stressed that a denial letter did not necessarily mean the end of the application process, but signaled more information was needed.

Marcia Beach of FEMA urged the survivors to follow through on the process.

As the session came to a close, Brasseale announced to the crowd that he would schedule another meeting in the next couple of weeks. He said it would not be at the council chambers.

Police Chief Robert Knight said the chambers was designed to hold about 75 people.

“We felt like we had to move it,” Knight said.

See photos of the damages in Pleasant Grove.

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