Many Slidell residents whose homes were damaged or destroyed by Katrina are being advised to hold off on repairs until FEMA inspects their house or face sticker shock for flood insurance.

Slidell Mayor Ben Morris said he has prepared permits telling residents that if they do repair their homes, they are doing it at their own risk.

FEMA says that homes with damage costing more than half of its value and that are not elevated at least nine feet above sea level will have to be raised to that level or the owners will face huge increases in flood insurance premiums.

“If they’re below base flood level elevation, their insurance will be extremely expensive,” said Martin Frengs of FEMA. “(It will be) in the thousands of dollars instead of hundreds of dollars per year like they’re paying now.”

That news has come as a big shock to some “do-it-yourselfers” who have already begun working on their homes.

Stephanie Ballay of Slidell said she was in the process of repairing her home when told that she might have to spend thousands to raise it.

“I was scheduled to start hanging my sheetrock today and all of that had to be put on hold,” she complained. “I might have to take money out of my pocket to lift my house and that seems so unfair.”

FEMA says it will not deny flood coverage to those who don’t raise their homes – though it will be more expensive – and that it will also help with some of the cost.

Morris said he won’t believe that until he sees it in writing.

“(I have) zero confidence until the program is in writing and they tell us the money is available,” he said.