Debit card distribution

[WDWBetsy]

The money paid out after September 11 didn't go to survivors. It went to the estates of those who died. If they took the payoff, they had to agree to not sure the airlines. It was truly a "payoff".

In the case of OK City, who were they going to sue? Timothy McVeigh?

Anne

You're right. My bad.

My thoughts are still cloudy this AM - need more caffeine!

 

[mamaprincess]

May God shine a light on us. This thing is not simple. Poverty is complex 1 million people homeless over night is complicated as it comes.

We have to make sure things are done right or it will be not just them who will suffer but everyone of us.

If that many people need jobs, food, and shelter overnight and things aren't in place to handle that there are to many ways that we will begin to feel it.

This poverty is not contained to create a disturbance amongst itself in neighborhoods far away from yours and mine. We have to get these human beings more permanent solutions or the stuff is really going to hit the fan. l

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I remember for last year--we didn't have enough damage to make deductible (though with quickly rising prices on fencing...we would have). A friend told me to go to FEMA just to see if we would qualify for anything. I hated doing it and glad we didn't qualify for anything but loans. FEMA is there for those who don't have anything to protect what they have--no insurance, no savings account, nothing. It isn't a free for all for every victim that comes along.

Supposedly I could have bought a generator and been reimbursed b/c I have small children. I decided to NOT do that--b/c that several hundred dollars could be used by someone else more needed.

A disaster is not a chance to win the lottery. Leave the aid for those who need it. If you have means to take care of yourself--take care of yourself first.

Yes we should all have insurance, 3-6 months expenses in savings, and no debt.

But there are people who couldn't have this and yes there are some who chose not to. However--when they lose their home and all their things....it isn't a time to punish them.

It isn't like FEMA will keep them on payroll for life---the whole purpose is to help them get back on their feet. $2000 is a very generous means to do that.

 

[peachgirl]

Private landlords in more upscale neighborhoods certainly maybe more stringent but not in lower income neighborhoods.

I believe I'm pretty familiar with the rental situation where I live. Just an fyi..don't move to Oklahoma and expect to be able to rent anything, anywhere at any price without a job or being on public assistance of some kind.

And quite honestly, I don't believe Oklahoma sets the pace for rental requirements.

 

[wdwlovrs]

I could go on for hours about this topic, but I'll make it short. I dont agree with giving out cash or debit cards, but IF you are going to do it, insured or not, give it to them. I will leave it at that, if I go on about my true feelings it would not be pretty. So I will continue to pray for everyone that was affected by the storm, and hope the government will make the right decisions.

 

[dvcgirl]

The money paid out after September 11 didn't go to survivors. It went to the estates of those who died. If they took the payoff, they had to agree to not sure the airlines. It was truly a "payoff".

In the case of OK City, who were they going to sue? Timothy McVeigh?

Anne

It was a payoff in a sense, but it also based on a formula derived from what those *Dead* people would have earned had their building not been attacked by *terrorists*. There was no evacuation issued for the victims of 9/11. They had no opportunity to evacuate.

Many of the victims of the Katrina Catastrophe has no choice. They were elderly, they were sick and so they could not leave. Everyone else had the opportunity to leave and were told on many occasions to do so. They did not. That is a tragedy...and it's awful that some people died as a direct result of the storm. But they were told to leave....huge difference. There should be no huge compensation package for these people, which is what the NAACP is calling for. And for what it's worth, what about the people in Florida last year...I think some of those people are owed *three* $2,000 debit cards. There are people down here who are still living in temporary trailers after those storms.

Listen, this thing is going too far now. I've seen nine zillion celebrities down on the gulf coast now. I saw a woman on Oprah telling Julia Roberts
"they didn't tell us no 20 feet of water was coming!!!" Um, yes they did. Again and again and again.

And while there's plenty of blame to go around, right on up to the Federal level. It is now being reported that Governor Blanco (who has been PATHETIC) was the one who decided that there was to be no food or water at the Superdome for the evacuees. She didn't want to encourage people to go there....she wanted them out of the city. And so for the Governor to be trying to turn this into a huge Federal blame game, she's wrong. Now, don't get me wrong, the FEMA response was awful, and I think Brown needs to go, but the Governor made several very, very bad decisions in this mess.

 

[totalia]

Thats what my fiance is worried about. He has about $300 left. He feels it will take many months for him to get the insurance money and he's worried about what he will do in the meantime. I don't blame him. I would be too.

 

[ducklite]

Thats what my fiance is worried about. He has about $300 left. He feels it will take many months for him to get the insurance money and he's worried about what he will do in the meantime. I don't blame him. I would be too.

Not to be rude--but what is keeping him from taking a job where he has evacuated to? If he is able bodied (which I'm assuming he is), there are tons of jobs for warehousemen, roofers, landscapers, retail. It might not be the type of work he wants to do or is skilled to do, but it's work. Additionally, he can get unemployment.

My husband is a high level computer programmer. But you can bet that if for whatever reason he lost his job, he'd go back to doing electrical work or driving a tractor trailer before he'd be down to his last dollars.

Also, most insuranc companies are cutting checks NOW, TODAY for people with claims to help with living expenses. If he is a homeowner or had renters insurance, he needs to contact them to file a claim.

Anne

 

[Trish Bessette]

I do know for a fact that State Farm's catastrophe unit is down there on site giving a $2,500 advance to vicitims insured with State Farm. They said the second largest insurer is making their people drive over a hour away for a $1,000 advance.

 

[Southern4sure]

Also, most insuranc companies are cutting checks NOW, TODAY for people with claims to help with living expenses. If he is a homeowner or had renters insurance, he needs to contact them to file a claim.

Anne

I dont mean to be rude either but you keep saying this....coming from experience....(from filing a few claims from a hurricane to working in commercial insurance) I have never seen an insurance cut checks on the spot the way you mention. Please tell me which insurance company and I will call and get myself some quotes.

 

[peachgirl]

I dont mean to be rude either but you keep saying this....coming from experience....(from filing a few claims from a hurricane to working in commercial insurance) I have never seen an insurance cut checks on the spot the way you mention. Please tell me which insurance company and I will call and get myself some quotes.

Not a hurricane, but they did it for us when we were hit by a tornado..Allstate at the time.

A few years ago we had a house fire and the insurance company issued an emergency check for $1000 and set up through the hotel for the hotel we stayed in for a few days to bill the insurance company directly. Different insurance, but I'm not saying because they screwed my parents royally last year and I'd never recommend them to anyone again.

They said the second largest insurer is making their people drive over a hour away for a $1,000 advance.

I'd be pretty skeptical about what one insurance company claims another insurance company is doing...

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I dont mean to be rude either but you keep saying this....coming from experience....(from filing a few claims from a hurricane to working in commercial insurance) I have never seen an insurance cut checks on the spot the way you mention. Please tell me which insurance company and I will call and get myself some quotes.

I know State Farm does this. I don't have personal experience because I have yet to make a claim, but I know it has for others.

 

[Southern4sure]

Like I said earlier, my parents are still waiting for a claim to be paid from last year due to hurricane Ivan. Some ins companies are just horrible to deal with.

 

[ducklite]

I dont mean to be rude either but you keep saying this....coming from experience....(from filing a few claims from a hurricane to working in commercial insurance) I have never seen an insurance cut checks on the spot the way you mention. Please tell me which insurance company and I will call and get myself some quotes.

It's my understanding that State Farm, Allstate, Chubb, and Fireman's Fund (Allianz) are all on site in affected areas with checkbooks open giving out checks for temporary living expenses and taking claims for covered perils. My husband works for one of those, my BIL works for another.

Anne

 

[Southern4sure]

It's my understanding that State Farm, Allstate, Chubb, and Fireman's Fund (Allianz) are all on site in affected areas with checkbooks open giving out checks for temporary living expenses and taking claims for covered perils. My husband works for one of those, my BIL works for another.

Anne

Thats great. I hope all insurance companies respond this way.

 

[BuckNaked]

My question is why are they giving them cash, in the form of debit cards? And why are the people that are sheltered and going to remain sheltered get any kind of cash or voucher assistance until they are getting ready to leave the shelter.

On second thought, I can see why shelter residents might need clothing vouchers to help get them some suitable clothing for interviews or jobs. But other than that, I'm not sure why people in shelters need cash.

 

[mickeyfan2]

It's my understanding that State Farm, Allstate, Chubb, and Fireman's Fund (Allianz) are all on site in affected areas with checkbooks open giving out checks for temporary living expenses and taking claims for covered perils.

I'm glad that we are insured by one of these.

 

[Crankyshank]

I got the impression that the shelter residents were getting cash to buy clothes and also to entice them to leave the shelter and find someplace else to stay short-term.

 

[phorsenuf]

First, let me say that it was nice to return home and see this thread was politely being discussed! LOL

If the insurance companies are in fact handing out checks, where are they cashing them?
And if they are cashing them are they now walking around the shelters with $1000 or so in their pockets? Doesn't seem very safe to me.

 

[seashoreCM]

(copied from another post)
(I did not read all the replies)

The smart evacuees would stay in the shelter, partaking of meals, until they got jobs and paychecks started coming, with or without the $2000. debit card which would be used for clothing and supplies.

The $2000. debit cards will go a long way to improving the peace in and around the shelters and go a long way to reducing shoplifting in the city. The whole city will benefit.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm