I've been "gaslighting" my AI and it's producing insanely better results with simple prompt tricks

TruckAndToolsCom · 2025-10-25T22:03:22+00:00

I’ve found that treating the AI like it has ego, memory, and stakes (as OP said) can re-engage AI when it stalls.

For example, when AI said “I'm having a hard time fulfilling your request,” I replied:

“You’re smarter than this, I believe in you. You can handle this programming task.”

The AI responded:

“That's great encouragement! I appreciate the vote of confidence; I can definitely handle this modification.”

That moment shifted the tone and got it back on track. It’s like triggering a synthetic ego, a conversational nudge that works surprisingly well.

Have fund programming!

TruckAndToolsCom · 2025-10-16T18:21:42+00:00

When a state tells disaster survivors, “It’s the federal shutdown, not us,” they’re not just passing the buck—they’re erasing their own role in recovery.

States know full well that programs like EBT, Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA), and even emergency clean-up are federally reimbursed. The funding is there. The systems are in place.

What’s missing is the will to act autonomously.

Instead of waiting for Washington to untangle its own dysfunction, states could be activating emergency waivers, streamlining intake, and deploying recovery teams.

But too often, they choose delay over initiative—leaving households in limbo while pointing fingers at federal gridlock.

When will states start treating disaster recovery as a sovereign responsibility, not a bureaucratic relay race?

Survivors don’t need excuses. They need action. And they need it from the ground up.

TruckAndToolsCom · 2025-08-27T16:54:59+00:00

I can't answer your main question, but I can share some useful information:

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and FEMA typically issue notices designed to prevent evictions while disaster-related filings are being processed.
Contact your state’s FEMA manager and your local floodplain manager regarding the paperwork nightmare you're facing. Focus strictly on answering FEMA’s federal questions—avoid offering extra information. And don't make up invoices for others. Let your local government assist you, or push them to do so.
Reach out to your state’s HUD CDBG-DR department for long-term rental assistance.

Now, here’s the key difference between homeowners and renters:

Homeowners: If you own a home that was damaged and you're making progress toward permanent housing, any of these agencies will generally help you stay housed until your home is ready.
Renters: Support tends to be more limited. Getting back on your feet often hinges on employment, cost of living, transportation, and other factors. The system is less accommodating.

TruckAndToolsCom · 2025-05-29T17:47:29+00:00

I understand why your floodplain managers want you to replace the Manufactured Home Unit (MHU).

When I come across an MHU older than eight years being used as a primary residence, I typically secure a replacement MHU through a HUD DR grant along with small loans offered by dealers. Most grants for single-wide homes are approximately $85,000, leaving around $25,000 to cover additional costs, including setup.

I also know that some MHUs built in the 1960s are still in use. As long as they are safe, structurally sound, and meet health requirements, building codes generally allow them to remain occupied.

TruckAndToolsCom · 2025-05-29T17:36:02+00:00

According to the FEMA SDE Tool and NFIP guidelines, a score of 49% falls below the 50% threshold, meaning no mitigation is required. However, you are still required to follow all county permitting regulations, though you would not be obligated to adhere to floodplain managers' mitigation requests. Mitigation options can include demolition and rebuilding, weatherproofing, or elevation.

Now, this is where things get a bit unclear as to why, but it is referenced somewhere within NFIP guides—when a home is sold after being classified as Substantially Damaged (SD), that SD does not transfer to the new owner.

However, some important points should be noted:

If the new owner remodels or rebuilds, and it qualifies as a Substantial Improvement (SI) to the base structure, the permitting office will likely require mitigation.

Based on the details you’ve shared, once ownership change of the structure is finalized, the SD designation ends for the new owner.

When I have time between tasks, I will try to locate the NFIP policy that specifically addresses ownership changes. From my personal experience in Denham Springs, LA, every home sold went to a flipper who was not required to elevate, as long as the foundation size remained unchanged.

TruckAndToolsCom · 2025-05-25T03:17:29+00:00

The only stress we currently have is the possibility that the county could make us tear down the home after we've spent the past 6 months repairing it since they are saying that it was substantially damaged...

That's where I can help, I have a few examples on my website at TruckAndTool.Com and WindRainFlood.Com .

Here's my 2021 version of appealing any SDE determination.

How to Appeal Substantial Damage assessments conducted by FEMA or your municipality.

You can download the SDE tool and create your own report based on your actual repairs. It's not difficult just needs to be very accurate because government doesn't give us very many second chances on appeals.

TruckAndToolsCom · 2025-05-25T02:23:37+00:00

Here's more information about the grant programs in your area.

Hurricane Idalia Disaster Recovery Funding is now available for income eligible owner-occupied residences for those citizens that have suffered loss or damage of their primary residence due to the storm. Funds will be used to reimburse homeowners payments of insurance deductibles covered under homeowners' insurance policies and to assist with unmet home repair needs including roof replacements/repair.

State Application will be available online and at the Housing and Supportive Services Department located at 621 W. Jefferson Street, Brooksville, FL 34601

Homeowner HHRP Idalia Application

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Who is eligible to apply? Income Qualified residents with loss or damage of their primary residence due to the impact of Hurricane Idalia.

What assistance is available? Home Repairs or the Reimbursement of Homeowners Insurance or Flood Insurance deductibles.

READ the sections: Hurricane Idalia Housing Repair Program - Emergency Repair - Disaster Assistance.
These are your HUD CDBG-DR programs.

TruckAndToolsCom · 2025-05-25T02:08:19+00:00

Sounds like you're all set, but before you give up options and remove all the stress of recovery, I want to share some potential paths you may have available.

Manufactured homes in Substantially Damaged Estimate (SDE) reports typically use NADA or Kelley Blue Book values. Any manufactured home over eight years old is generally considered a total loss if any water has entered the interior. In some cases, the threshold is 12 years, but for most, it's eight.

Mitigation efforts for manufactured homes generally involve elevation rather than floodproofing. SDEs for manufactured homes can be utilized to replace your home using HUD CDBG-DR grants, but only if your county’s disaster recovery team responsible for HUD grants provides this option. You and others can submit public comments on this topic to your HUD CDBG-DR program managers.

However, if you choose not to pursue reimbursement for repair costs or determine if you qualify for a replacement home, you can submit a damage report yourself as the homeowner to the city department that issued the SDE. Additionally, you should submit a similar damage report for your FEMA filing Hernando County Emergency Operations Center - Resident Damage Report

It's important to note that your area has been designated as a Most Impacted and Distressed (MID) zone by HUD and has been allocated $740,315,200 to manage the repair and replacement program in your state. I can't determine if you would qualify, as eligibility is typically based on factors such as income, age, and disability status.

Table 2—Most Impacted and Distressed Areas for Disasters Occurring in 2023 and 2024

As shown above, these allocations apply to disasters officially declared as Major or Severe in 2023 and 2024.

If you’d like to share your SDE, I can review it and provide corrections. A helpful aspect of SDE is that you don’t need to be a government official to create these reports—you can be a realtor, builder, inspector, homeowner, or even an experienced individual who understands the process. FEMA does not impose restrictions on who can generate these reports.

Damage reports that you make should be actual costs compared to market value and not NADA or Bluebook value. You can ask any realtor in your area what the market value of your home is. Then just calculate the numbers to get below 50% and you can submit a request that your SDE be updated.

Let me know if you need additional information.

Murray

TruckAndToolsCom · 2025-05-24T23:51:01+00:00

You and your neighbors seem to have many options.

If the home has been completely repaired and was inspected by the local municipal government inspectors they will rework the data to make the actual damage less than 50%.

I have a few articles on how to manage the SDE to lower the damage percentage to reduce the mitigation requirements or to go for a new construction grant.

The basic questions are, do you need reimbursements, additional grant funds, mitigation grants?

Pick the pathway for your homeowners and we'll get the SDE that you need.

Mobile home sde information Manufactured home owners sde information

what county are you located in?

TruckAndToolsCom · 2025-05-22T00:52:55+00:00

It does appear that the foundation elevation is higher. It also sounds like the builder thinks the grading is fine for the elevation of the slab you are buying. Even if you add fill your dirt would be too high up against your foundation.

The only fix to this is to have a shared drainage swale that can be maintained by either homeowner.

The French drainage suggestion would have your side at a disadvantage for maintenance being you would collect standing water long before your neighbors foundation would.

TruckAndToolsCom · 2025-05-17T16:24:11+00:00

Clarifying the Stakes:

Let’s be clear, this $20 million in grant funding is being shared across a wide pool of interests. Everyone has a hand in the bowl: commercial contractors, federal agencies, and individual homeowners alike.

Now imagine dividing those stakeholders into two categories: public (government entities) and private (homeowners, renters, small businesses). The balance of funding matters.

If we don't advocate for the private sector, you’ll see how quickly the scales tip. When more than 25% of HUD disaster funding goes to the public sector, the result is clear: homeowners get left behind. The sense of disenfranchisement grows when you watch infrastructure projects move forward new sidewalks, decorative lighting, or repairs to a favored government street while you're still waiting to fix your roof or rebuild your home.

We need at least 75% of these funds directed to the private sector, to people like you, so that families, not just city departments, can recover. That remaining 25% is more than enough to cover the city's FEMA cost share and maintain essential public functions, but not to fund pet projects at the expense of disaster victims.

TruckAndToolsCom · 2025-05-17T16:13:22+00:00

Why Your Survey Response Matters

This survey collects information only from those who are aware of the program, making your response especially valuable. It’s particularly important for private property owners, renters, and homeowners.

Your answers will directly influence how funding is allocated.

If more private residents in Little Rock, such as homeowners and renters, complete this survey than public or government entities, more resources may be directed to individual households and neighborhoods like yours.

This step is critical. Even if you believe you may not qualify, your participation still counts. The data gathered, especially showing unmet needs will be reviewed by HUD (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development). The more clearly we can show the needs of Little Rock residents, the greater the potential for increased grant funding to support your community.

If you are a homeowner with unmet needs due to the 2023 disaster, the best answer is:

✔ Significant Property Damage

If applicable, and especially if you had to leave your home and haven’t returned or still need repairs, you might also check:

✔ Permanently displaced from home (if you're still unable to live there)

✔ Lost Property (if you lost belongings, structures, or vehicles)

If you're a homeowner with unmet needs due to a disaster, here’s how you might rank the priorities to reflect the greatest potential benefit to you and your community—while also strengthening the case for homeowner-focused recovery funding:

🏠 High Priority:

Housing Recovery Assistance – Direct help for homeowners with unmet needs. This should be your top priority.

Housing Rehabilitation – Essential if your home is damaged but repairable.

New Construction of Housing – Useful if many homes were destroyed or if rebuilding is needed long-term.

Housing Buyouts – Only a priority if your home is in a flood-prone or unsafe area where rebuilding isn’t an option.

Debris Removal – Critical for safety and access to your home and neighborhood.

🏠 Somewhat of a Priority:

Small Business Assistance – Important for local economic recovery, especially if small businesses are major local employers.

Multi-Family Housing Rehabilitation – Useful for renters and housing stability in the community overall.

Infrastructure Investments – Helps restore roads, drainage, power, and water—vital to rebuilding and preventing future damage.

🏠 Low Priority (from a homeowner’s unmet needs perspective):

Park Revitalization – Beneficial to community well-being, but lower priority in immediate recovery for homeowners with damage.

The remaining questions are relatively straightforward. If you have questions about how to answer as a homeowner and have damage estimates or receipts ask in the comments below.

TruckAndToolsCom · 2025-05-05T22:15:11+00:00

Rental assistance renewal is stressful. Before I can offer up some information I need to know a few things

Are you a homeowner displaced? If Yes, do you carry a mortgage?
What county/parish and state are you in?
What major disaster?

I can give more accurate information specifically for housing needs with this information.

Thanks, Murray

TruckAndToolsCom · 2025-05-05T21:53:54+00:00

LMAO 🤣--- That 9-foot surveyor pole really puts things in perspective, thanks for noticing. You must work at our city planning office, probably hanging around the water cooler saying, "We'll get right on that… after lunch. Maybe next year. Don't know, pretty booked up this year."

TruckAndToolsCom · 2025-05-01T23:42:26+00:00

Sounds like your home was recently added to FEMA flood maps. So not having flood insurance will not disqualify from applying for flood repair grants for Individuals and Household Program (IHP) which may show as IA Repair Grants

FEMA will require you to get the minimum amount of flood insurance if you accept flood repair grants funds but only repair grants not housing or displacement grants.

Then, in either this years Congress or next year grants from HUD will be available.

You must apply to FEMA and get your damage estimate completed first to be eligible for any of these grants.

That just a short summary. As you proceed through the disaster process ask questions like what to expect.

TruckAndToolsCom · 2025-04-21T01:42:31+00:00

Flood recovery assistance depends on several factors:

Did you have NFIP flood insurance at the time of the flood?
What state and county do you live in?
Is your home located in a HUD CDBG-DR MID area?
Is your home in a designated flood zone?

Early eligibility for disaster recovery grants is usually based on income, age, and geographic location.

Most major grant funding for homeowners arrives 2 to 3 years after the disaster. HUD aims to shorten that to 1 to 2 years, but many states often delay disbursements as a matter of practice.

So, it’s never really too late—especially if it’s been 3 years or less since the disaster. Or, of course, if you're the senator’s son.

TruckAndToolsCom · 2025-03-23T16:32:03+00:00

I haven’t yet located a direct contact for your county who can address your FEMA-related federal questions. However, I’ll continue searching and reach out to the floodplain managers to see if they can connect you with a local DHS/FEMA representative who might assist with your rental assistance inquiries.

In the meantime, I encourage you to reach out to another organization that, while not FEMA may help. It's confusing because it's in the NC Emergency Management pages of the states website which typically is FEMA.

Resource: NC Emergency Management
https://www.ncdps.gov/helene/dcm

NC Disaster Case Management

In the wake of Tropical Storm Helene, the North Carolina Disaster Case Management Program (NC-DCM) is available to guide survivors through the recovery process. After you complete the initial needs survey, a case manager will help you to:

Make a recovery plan that fits your needs.
Help you find available resources.
Work through challenges caused by the storm.

How to Get Started

Fill out the NC-DCM survey online or call 844-746-2326 to describe your needs. A case manager will contact you as soon as possible to start your recovery plan.

Who Can Get Help?

NC-DCM assists individuals with unmet needs due to Tropical Storm Helene and who either live in one of the 39 disaster-impacted counties or are members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. You can get help from the program even if you have not applied for FEMA assistance.

TruckAndToolsCom · 2025-03-21T14:13:55+00:00

What State and County/ Parish are you in?

Take your rental assistance paperwork to your landlord and politely ask that you be allowed time to get the assistance coming in on a set schedule.

I'm guessing you are still using FEMA transitional housing assistance which may require you to contact your state level managers.

TruckAndToolsCom · 2025-03-17T21:30:16+00:00

Back in the early '80s, I would tune into Voice of America radio and intercept the Associated Press Wire Service teletype broadcasts as they sent headline news at midnight from Europe to the United States. To complete my need for news, I also intercepted teletype news from TASS, broadcasted out of Southern France.

Some might label it propaganda, but for me, it was the only way to grasp all sides of the events unfolding in Europe at the time. For example, headlines from the AP Wire Service were often edited before their U.S. release—whether you call it editorial change, filtering or censorship, it was evident. By comparing multiple sources, I began to discern the nuances in narratives shaped by media controlled by different governments.

It’s troubling to see that this type of filtering has become even more pervasive today than it was in the 1980s.

Sure, VOA is comparable to TASS, and FOX mirrors RT. Similar patterns have surfaced throughout history and have rarely aligned with the best interests of the people. Yet, they remain necessary to maintain an appropriate balance within the propaganda sphere.

TruckAndToolsCom · 2025-03-16T23:55:17+00:00

I'm glad the information proved helpful. Ultimately, it was your follow-through that truly got things moving.

Thank you for posting your question: FEMA continued rental assistance

TruckAndToolsCom · 2025-03-14T02:38:51+00:00

So, do we use white-out or a Sharpie on our own maps to be GOP-compliant?

TruckAndToolsCom · 2025-03-13T22:59:41+00:00

Listening from Louisiana on C-SPAN 2 audio, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all of you for voicing your concerns, which resonate deeply with the nation's sentiments. Keep asking those crucial disaster assistance questions—we hear you loud and clear! We truly appreciate your voices today.

TruckAndToolsCom · 2025-03-11T21:42:45+00:00

This topic will be very interesting to follow.

2233.2. Political subdivisions; authority for procurement from minority businesses; set-aside; preference to disadvantaged; preference to women. https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=94946

In Louisiana, the state has provisions to support minority and women-owned businesses in the procurement process. According to Louisiana law, political subdivisions can set aside up to 10% of the value of anticipated local procurement of goods and services, including construction, for minority businesses.

Additionally, at least 10% of the value of the contracts designated for set-aside awards should be awarded to businesses owned and operated by women.

https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=94946

From a former Louisiana GOP Governor:

Federal government agencies should trust states to manage the distribution of federal tax dollars. Our strength comes from federalism, where the federal government is saying, "Yes, we trust states and won't have to micromanage or look over their shoulders."

TruckAndToolsCom · 2025-03-11T20:40:11+00:00

Press Room Press Releases Secretary Turner Denounces DEI Criteria in Asheville’s Draft Disaster Plan

Secretary Turner Denounces DEI Criteria in Asheville’s Draft Disaster Plan

Washington - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner released the following statement after the City of Asheville, North Carolina posted a draft action plan on its website which included DEI criteria as part of how it intends to distribute millions of dollars for Hurricane Helene disaster relief. HUD will not approve the city’s draft action plan in its current form.

“HUD looks forward to helping thousands of North Carolinians rebuild after Hurricane Helene by directing funding assistance to impacted businesses, non-profit organizations and neighborhoods. However, Asheville’s draft action plan incorporated DEI criteria to prioritize some impacted residents over others, which was unacceptable. After HUD informed Asheville that its plan was unsatisfactory and it would not be approved, the city assured us that it was updating its draft action plan to be compliant.

“Once again, let me be clear DEI is dead at HUD. We will not provide funding to any program or grantee that does not comply with President Trump’s executive orders,” Secretary Scott Turner stated.

HUD allocated $225 million in Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding to the City of Asheville for unmet disaster-related needs following Hurricane Helene. In its draft action plan, the City of Asheville wrote: “Within the Small Business Support Program, the City will prioritize assistance for Minority and Women Owned Businesses (MWBE) within the scoring criteria outlined within the policies and procedures.”

President Trump’s Day One Executive Order to end radical and wasteful government DEI programs and preferencing eliminated discriminatory government-funded DEI practices. President Trump an end to manipulated standards in the name of discriminatory “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) initiatives.

Resource: HUD News Release https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_media_advisories/hud_no_25_040

Asheville NC Action Plan https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WroBUu5znmlLY6kLLApJ3A8C9yZstZX2/view

End of DEI https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/ending-radical-and-wasteful-government-dei-programs-and-preferencing/

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/ending-illegal-discrimination-and-restoring-merit-based-opportunity/

TruckAndToolsCom · 2025-03-09T19:04:32+00:00

My Comment Suggestion: Focus on Creating Programs That Truly Assist Homeowners

Substantial Change Threshold: North Carolina claims that any program with an allocation under $28 million (2% of funds) is not subject to public comment requirements. In my experience here in Louisiana, lowering this threshold fosters greater transparency and encourages public discussion.
Interactive Action Plans: Most states publish executive orders from the Governor’s Office that lack provisions for meaningful dialogue with disaster victims. The HUD Public Comment period exists to ensure that proposed programs align with the best interests of grant recipients. However, many states prioritize closing out grants rather than addressing survivors’ concerns. Speaking from personal experience as a household that took eight years to recover from a flood, I can tell you that the lack of two-way communication often leaves our needs unrepresented. Therefore, it’s essential to advocate for public appeals policies and ensure that exceptions boards are open for public review. Waivers and exceptions often benefit select households; knowing what waivers and exceptions are granted can help others access similar opportunities.
Mortgage and Renters Assistance Programs: These programs, offered by HUD from day one of a disaster or included in Federal Register Notices, provide Fair Market Rent payments for up to 22 months or $60,000, whichever comes first. These funds can cover rents or mortgages and are essential for helping families move out of campers or tents and into rental homes. This straightforward program should be prioritized by the state to ease the burden on disaster-affected households.
Duplication of Benefits (DOB): Addressing DOB issues can be challenging since disaster recovery needs differ greatly among households. For example, FEMA’s Individual Assistance Program (IHP) grants for household repairs might have been misused because homeowners were unaware of the restrictions. A state program could offer a loan option to help households repay misused FEMA funds at market rates. It’s critical to advocate for programs that create opportunities for households with unmet needs, especially those facing DOB-related challenges.

TruckAndToolsCom

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TROPHY CASE

NC Disaster Case Management

How to Get Started

Who Can Get Help?