What do you expect FEMA, Governement all levels to do for you in a disaster?

[RitaE]

just as a heads up-allot of local (and bigger name national) charities are better at it because they have government staff doing the eligibility determinations and those charities won't aide until a person has been determined ineligible to goverment funds.

when i worked for social services i always thought it was rather interesting when certain disasters occured and the media would 'talk up' how this or that particular charity had responded and was providing for people in need and seemingly doing it in such an efficient manner-what was never publicized was how those charities would instruct anyone who asked for their help that the first step was to come to my office and apply for state and local emergency assistance funds. i and my co-workers would be responsible for determining the needs, income and assetts of individuals and families, docment it, issue any gov. funds or line up any gov. services they might be eligible to-then the people would take that information back to the charities who would use it for their purposes (and often, if they were eligible to even the very minimal resources we had or we found that despite their being in an emergent situation and 'in need' but ineligible to gov. asst. because of their income/assetts-that made them ineligible to those of the charities ).

sometimes, sometimes not.

For instance, yesterday I went to WalMart and filled the back of my SUV with some bleach, mops, rags, buckets, diapers, and water. I drove it over to our Church parking lot where some men put it into the back of their pick-up trucks and vans. Then they took off to drive it to a sister church up in Wisconsin.

Today, people will stop by and pick up the stuff they need to clean and put it to use.

There you go. The program was announced on in Church on Sunday and by Wednesday the donations are in the hands of people. No Social Workers qualifying anybody, no FEMA, no hassle.

Meanwhile, here we are 3 years Post Katrina and FEMA is still trying to get their "starter kits" of cleaning supplies into the hands of the hurricane victims. (go read CNN).

 

[golfgal]

uhhh,, No. Many of these people were told that they did not need flood inurance, they were not in a flood plain. Some did have flood insurance. It wasn't a flood, like the ones in Iowa. Some houses were swept away by storm surge. Not filled with water: gone, only the slab left. They were told that it was considered a flood and that the flood insurance (if they had it) would pay, then they were told no it was wind damage (wind caused the storm surge) and their homeowners would pay it; it didn't. Others were filled with water, again from the storm surge, their insurance did not pay either.

I have many friends and family in the area. I know what they went through.
There are still people living in tents down there because they cannot rebuild the homes that were insured.

ETA: Many Mississipians have had to buy new insurance since Katrina as our homeowners is now saying they will not cover wind damage. So, tell, me why am I continuing to pay out the back end every month for this well regulated wonderfully run scam? They paid a grand total of $5000 on my house to replace a roof, some windows and a brick wall. Luckily I had family that helped us do the work ourselves. Others (2 hours inland, not on the coastline) still have blue tarps on thier roofs, because their insurance didn't pay enough to complete the work needed.

A flood is defined as water being where it not normally is--it doesn't have to come from a river to be a flood. Flooding can be caused by heavy rainfall filling up your backyard and pouring into your basement--that isn't covered unless you have a flood policy either. The storm surge is still a flood. Plenty of houses were swept away in Iowa too. http://www.startribune.com/galleries/19929214.html?location_refer=Homepage:highlightModules:1

There are some not so good insurance companies out there but most of them go by the rules. What kind of coverage did these people have that they didn't get payouts. NO insurance company is going to pay for something the people didn't buy-plain and simple. As for the people in Mississippi, the insurance companies would have had to get that filed through the state to ok dropping wind coverage (most companies don't cover hurricanes at all now). Take it up with the state. Same for flood ins, NO insurance company pays for flood, that is through FEMA. People have to take some responsibility for themselves too. Did you have full replacement cost for your house?

 

[Planogirl]

sometimes, sometimes not.

For instance, yesterday I went to WalMart and filled the back of my SUV with some bleach, mops, rags, buckets, diapers, and water. I drove it over to our Church parking lot where some men put it into the back of their pick-up trucks and vans. Then they took off to drive it to a sister church up in Wisconsin.

Today, people will stop by and pick up the stuff they need to clean and put it to use.

There you go. The program was announced on in Church on Sunday and by Wednesday the donations are in the hands of people. No Social Workers qualifying anybody, no FEMA, no hassle.

Meanwhile, here we are 3 years Post Katrina and FEMA is still trying to get their "starter kits" of cleaning supplies into the hands of the hurricane victims. (go read CNN).

I want to say that I don't know what so many of the victims would have done without many churches helping out like they did. The Red Cross was there too of course but they can only do so much. With inept government (at all levels) it's gratifying to see people helping out so much.

 

[golfgal]

I want to say that I don't know what so many of the victims would have done without many churches helping out like they did. The Red Cross was there too of course but they can only do so much. With inept government (at all levels) it's gratifying to see people helping out so much.

Yes, there were government mess-ups with Katrina but there are only so many people that work for the government and they can only do so much. Help poured in from all over the country and had that not happened things would have been a lot worse but again, there are only so many police officers, fire fighters, social workers, etc. to go around. There are only so many hours in the day. I also feel that if you ignore a mandatory evacuation warning you pretty much give up your right to complain if the government isn't doing what you think they should do.

 

[Belle1962]

zipping up my flameproof suit.

NO ONE should be "relying" on the government for anything. FEMA does not have an endless source of money or resources. Other Federal agencies are called in to assist in natural disasters--they too have limited budgets and resources. In the event of anything--you should be prepared to be self-reliant for 3 - 5 days at a minimum. Have your plans and your "bug out" bag/kit ready or be ready to shelter in place. NO ONE can go in to assist you until it is SAFE. That could be several days.

If you own property--INSURE IT!!!!! In addition to your homeowners enroll and PAY for the NFIP (National Flood Insurance Program). If you live in a low risk area your payments are MINIMUM (mine are less than $115 a year). If you live in a high risk area your premiums will reflect it--but that is something you should have taken into account as part of your cost of living when contemplating living there/buying there. If you can't afford to insure the property --you can't afford the property. If you are a renter you still should have renters insurance and FLOOD insurance. (I used to rent an apt in a flood zone--it was hard to find but you CAN find flood insurance for renters) "For decades, the NFIP has been offering flood insurance to homeowners, renters and business owners, with the one condition that their communities adopt and enforce measures to help reduce the consequences of flooding. " Check out this website to see what premiums would cost you.

http://www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/pages/index.jsp?WT.mc_id=YahooSSP&WT.srch=1


I do not begrduge the victims of any natural disaster assistance but I think there should be a limit---there are still people living in FEMA trailers/housing and receiving government assistance TODAY--from Katrina. At what point do you become responsible for yourself? Granted many of these people are the poorest of the poor-but not all of them are. For those truely in need, we need a better system in place than a perpetual welfare state for them. After the formaldehyde issue hit the papers a NO paper interviewed one woman who was now "moving to a hotel" until her insurance finished her house. Oh---you were happy to live rent free, in my tax dollar subsidized housing until you found out there might be a risk--NOW you are willing to spend your own $$$$. That to me is fraud.

We need a plan to assist those who truely need it--not those who just didn't bother to get the proper coverage. Short term immediate aid for everyone --long term aid to those who truely need it. And if that means relocating people so be it. You will probably say "not to my state" but at some point these people need to be taken out of the limbo they have lived in for YEARS. They need real housing and to be in cities/towns that have all of the infrastructure in place that they need-medical care, social services, etc. Yes--it it is hard to leave the city/state you grew up in/lived in for many years but people move ALL THE TIME. I would much rather my tax dollars went to move you and your family to a better situation than to support you for YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS while you wait for things "to recover".

still zipped.

 

[Planogirl]

Yes, there were government mess-ups with Katrina but there are only so many people that work for the government and they can only do so much. Help poured in from all over the country and had that not happened things would have been a lot worse but again, there are only so many police officers, fire fighters, social workers, etc. to go around. There are only so many hours in the day. I also feel that if you ignore a mandatory evacuation warning you pretty much give up your right to complain if the government isn't doing what you think they should do.

I agree IF the resident has the means to evacuate. I still believe that many in New Orleans did not.

I also want to add that I do not include the police or firefighters or others at that level in my comments about inept government. Except for the New Orleans police that just plain walked off the job (and I'm sure that many of them had their reasons), I believe that these people did everything they could.

 

[luvsJack]

I know that when most of you speak of Katrina you are referring more to NOLA than to my state, but I can not help but feel defensive for my fellow Mississipains on the Gulf Coast. When you mention "still living in a FEMA trailer", do you have any idea what a FEMA trailer even looks like? Have you ever lived in an old, cheap, basic mobile home (not much more than a cheap tin can)? Well a FEMA trailer is worse than that. If you would like to see one, please come visit. I can show you hundreds. ( FEMA still doesn't have it together. I am sure these empty trailers would come in handy in Iowa, but they will remain here, unused) No one would prefer a FEMA trailer to the home they had on their beloved gulf coast. FEMA screwed up after Katrina. They ran around offering money to people to make up from their screw up, problem was the money never got to the people who needed it. People got $1000 checks. People that had evacuated, to family mind you. They were sitting somewhere else with power and running water and able to get on the phone to FEMA to apply for the money, while others were down here trying to get their belongings out of the trees and didn't have the ability to call FEMA-so they didn't get the money. Please, do not belittle what these people went through by saying they should be "financially responsible"--you have no idea what happened. And "be prepared"--give me a break! What good is that case of bottled water when you house doesn't exist anymore?? So you can sit there in the comfort of your home, with power and water and say "this is what everyone should do", but until it has happened to you, you have no idea. And the insurance companies? Oh, puhlease!! they didn't pay because they saw a way out, plain and simple. BTW, I know the definition of a flood--its the insurance companies that seem to have a problem with it. These people were told one thing and then the companies did another, and unless you were here and trying to get your house rebuilt you do not know; do not tell me what some report says on some web site. I have seen the people still living in tents. I have seen the homeless on our street corners. I have cried seeing homeless teen-agers; I have bought blankets and food for them in hopes that at least they would be warm and fed. Homeless that came here after this storm. If you are so concerned about your precious tax dollars going to someone else than get up and help a disaster victim, offer them your home and your food and your clothing. Until you do that: you have nothing to say. Should the government help the victims of every disaster? You are damn skippy they should.

 

[barkley]

sometimes, sometimes not.

For instance, yesterday I went to WalMart and filled the back of my SUV with some bleach, mops, rags, buckets, diapers, and water. I drove it over to our Church parking lot where some men put it into the back of their pick-up trucks and vans. Then they took off to drive it to a sister church up in Wisconsin.

Today, people will stop by and pick up the stuff they need to clean and put it to use.

There you go. The program was announced on in Church on Sunday and by Wednesday the donations are in the hands of people. No Social Workers qualifying anybody, no FEMA, no hassle.

Meanwhile, here we are 3 years Post Katrina and FEMA is still trying to get their "starter kits" of cleaning supplies into the hands of the hurricane victims. (go read CNN).

i was speaking more of vouchers for temporary housing or funds to replace lost household goods/clothing. i always felt so bad for people when they were victims of a fire and the local red cross in the area i served would tell them they had to come down to social services to see if they qualified for anything with us first. we had squat in the way of emergency assistance (as recently as 5 years ago it was like a $200 maximum to replace all household items and clothing). the last thing a still in shock family who has survived a fire needs to be doing the next morning is sitting in what is likely the only clothes they own (often smokey smelling, torn and filthy) in a government office wondering how they are going to eat or be housed that night and weather they are going to be able to get a change of clothes (walletts and purses are low priority to grab from a flaming building when your life is at stake so even if you have money in the bank you may not have the i.d. or means to access it). i personaly think this is the time when charities could work their best-use some funds to meet their immediate needs (a clean motel room, a change of clothes, some food and personal hygene products) so they can take a moment and breathe, collect their thoughts, use the phone to call social services, their insurance company, distant relatives, WHOMEVER to get the ball rolling on rebuilding their lives.

 

[golfgal]

I agree IF the resident has the means to evacuate. I still believe that many in New Orleans did not.

I also want to add that I do not include the police or firefighters or others at that level in my comments about inept government. Except for the New Orleans police that just plain walked off the job (and I'm sure that many of them had their reasons), I believe that these people did everything they could.

Ok, but what were those buses for then.... We all saw pictures of buses in NO waiting to take people to safety and no one was getting on them??

I know that when most of you speak of Katrina you are referring more to NOLA than to my state, but I can not help but feel defensive for my fellow Mississipains on the Gulf Coast. When you mention "still living in a FEMA trailer", do you have any idea what a FEMA trailer even looks like? Have you ever lived in an old, cheap, basic mobile home (not much more than a cheap tin can)? Well a FEMA trailer is worse than that. If you would like to see one, please come visit. I can show you hundreds. ( FEMA still doesn't have it together. I am sure these empty trailers would come in handy in Iowa, but they will remain here, unused) No one would prefer a FEMA trailer to the home they had on their beloved gulf coast. FEMA screwed up after Katrina. They ran around offering money to people to make up from their screw up, problem was the money never got to the people who needed it. People got $1000 checks. People that had evacuated, to family mind you. They were sitting somewhere else with power and running water and able to get on the phone to FEMA to apply for the money, while others were down here trying to get their belongings out of the trees and didn't have the ability to call FEMA-so they didn't get the money. Please, do not belittle what these people went through by saying they should be "financially responsible"--you have no idea what happened. And "be prepared"--give me a break! What good is that case of bottled water when you house doesn't exist anymore?? So you can sit there in the comfort of your home, with power and water and say "this is what everyone should do", but until it has happened to you, you have no idea. And the insurance companies? Oh, puhlease!! they didn't pay because they saw a way out, plain and simple. BTW, I know the definition of a flood--its the insurance companies that seem to have a problem with it. These people were told one thing and then the companies did another, and unless you were here and trying to get your house rebuilt you do not know; do not tell me what some report says on some web site. I have seen the people still living in tents. I have seen the homeless on our street corners. I have cried seeing homeless teen-agers; I have bought blankets and food for them in hopes that at least they would be warm and fed. Homeless that came here after this storm. If you are so concerned about your precious tax dollars going to someone else than get up and help a disaster victim, offer them your home and your food and your clothing. Until you do that: you have nothing to say. Should the government help the victims of every disaster? You are damn skippy they should.

This is the point that everyone is trying to make, these people are sitting around waiting for the government to step in and help them, um, how about getting off your butt and doing for yourself. I know a lot of these people are low income people however, eventually they DO need to do SOMETHING for themselves. Yes, the government should HELP and they DID, but it seems like these people want them to do EVERYTHING and no, that isn't right. Maybe everyone in Cedar Rapids, IA should just pitch a tent and wait for FEMA to come in and clean stuff up--oh, wait, too late, the people are taking care of themselves--AS THEY SHOULD.

 

[Nancyg56]

This is the point that everyone is trying to make, these people are sitting around waiting for the government to step in and help them, um, how about getting off your butt and doing for yourself. I know a lot of these people are low income people however, eventually they DO need to do SOMETHING for themselves. Yes, the government should HELP and they DID, but it seems like these people want them to do EVERYTHING and no, that isn't right. Maybe everyone in Cedar Rapids, IA should just pitch a tent and wait for FEMA to come in and clean stuff up--oh, wait, too late, the people are taking care of themselves--AS THEY SHOULD.

But what would you do? I don't mean in your hypothetical disaster. The one where your food is on shelves, your generator hooked up, your place of business still intact, your family still alive, your home and belongings just tattered and dirty. Your bank and schools and hospitals and doctors and grocery stores ready to open their doors? Your vehicle gassed up and waiting in the next town? I mean the disaster where your home is gone. Your Mom and Dad dead, your pets missing, your job disintegrated. Your insurance coverage.....oopps.....not going to pay. Vehicle? What vehicle? Hospitals, Doctors, nursing care, grocery stores, building supplies, contractors, schools, hotels, apartment complexes, employers and potential customers.....non existent. You have no money, no job, no prospects, no family and lots of bills. Yes the bills continue even though you lost your job, your home and you have no way to leave becasue without a job and money there is often no place to go to.

That is the disaster those who lived through Katrina faced. While I would never minimize the horror that the Midwest is suffering through now, I don't see that there is any comparison. This was not an area that depended on service workers, encouraged public transportation with an infrastructure that was conducive to an evacuation. There were a multitude of reasons why Katrina had so much devastation and while some of those reasons revolved around personal responsibility, there were so many more reasons that were out of those poor folks control.

I know that this is a public message board and I know that as such anyone can post their opinions but I am perplexed by some of them. I thank God every day that my little corner of the world has been so blessed weather wise. I pray every day that the folks who have been affected by the fury of a Nature gone wild have the strength and courage to continue when I am not sure that I would have the fortitude. I do not and will not sit in my dry home sipping my coffee, hooked up to my internet service and criticize the circumstances that some of the survivors have found themselves in. No one knows what tomorrow will bring and I believe in paying it forward. If I or my family finds themselves pummeled by some disaster I hope that someone will be there to lift us if I find that we cannot stand.

I prepare, goodness knows I am the Queen of "What if", but I have no idea if all that I have done to try to control my life, my circumstances and my future is going to be enough when that time comes. Nor do you.

 

[luvsJack]

For your information the people of Mississippi did get up and help themselves and each other. You don't have a clue what you are talking about. The next day we got out with chain saws and started cutting our way down the highways and into peoples drive ways. Cutting trees off our neighbor's and our own homes. We fixed each others homes, cleaned each others yards, provided food for each other. Not one of us waited for anyone to provide us with anything. Ice and water were needed because we could not get it anywhere. There was no power from Jackson to the coast (probably futher, but thats the distance I know first hand was out of power)

Entire towns were gone, but the people banned together to help each other. FEMA was too busy chasing their own tail. For instance, a town about 30 minutes south of me had no running water or power for many weeks. FEMA could not figure out that they desperatly needed ice and water. A truck was sitting waiting to find out where to go: local sherriff took the truck and the ice and provided for the people who needed it. He had the good sence to figure out who needed the ice while FEMA sat there confused. Local churches provided meals, clothing, water and ice to people that had nothing.

You have no clue what it was like for some of these people. My BIL is in the National Guard, he left his father dying in the hospital in NO, came home and went to help those on the coast. He cried when he saw the people down there. People sitting on the slabs of their homes, crying and rocking, not knowing what to do next. Do not talk down to me about what one should do in a disaster.

No one has pitched a tent waiting for FEMA or anyone else. They are surviving. They have nothing else. They still go to work everyday, but not everyone makes enough money to just run out and buy another house. This is the United States of America and we have people in tents 3 years after a disaster? Give me a break! Oh, and we have the trailers sitting here empty that they wasted thousands (millions?) of dollars on, while these people are living in tents or on street corners. But, by all means continue to worry yourself about someone getting something (remember: the trailers are already paid for. someone getting one at this point is not costing you anything)

The entire gulf coast was wiped out. It wasn't like anyone could just go rent an apartment: there weren't any. It wasn't like anyone could go and buy gas for their car and go further inland, there were no stations. They couldn't buy any food either. So--why not go on to work? Oh, the highway was gone! Besides that, many worked in the casinos----guess what! Their jobs were gone, because the casinos were gone! No home, no job, but plenty of bills!

You are not getting it, because you don't want to. Its much easier to think, "it must be thier own fault, it would never happen to me." WRONG. It can happen. When you are in the middle of a storm or flood hanging on to whatever you can find, not knowing if you will be alive to see the end of the storm, watching your life float away; then you can judge.

 

[Tine731]

For your information the people of Mississippi did get up and help themselves and each other. You don't have a clue what you are talking about. The next day we got out with chain saws and started cutting our way down the highways and into peoples drive ways. Cutting trees off our neighbor's and our own homes. We fixed each others homes, cleaned each others yards, provided food for each other. Not one of us waited for anyone to provide us with anything. Ice and water were needed because we could not get it anywhere. There was no power from Jackson to the coast (probably futher, but thats the distance I know first hand was out of power)

Entire towns were gone, but the people banned together to help each other. FEMA was too busy chasing their own tail. For instance, a town about 30 minutes south of me had no running water or power for many weeks. FEMA could not figure out that they desperatly needed ice and water. A truck was sitting waiting to find out where to go: local sherriff took the truck and the ice and provided for the people who needed it. He had the good sence to figure out who needed the ice while FEMA sat there confused. Local churches provided meals, clothing, water and ice to people that had nothing.

You have no clue what it was like for some of these people. My BIL is in the National Guard, he left his father dying in the hospital in NO, came home and went to help those on the coast. He cried when he saw the people down there. People sitting on the slabs of their homes, crying and rocking, not knowing what to do next. Do not talk down to me about what one should do in a disaster.

No one has pitched a tent waiting for FEMA or anyone else. They are surviving. They have nothing else. They still go to work everyday, but not everyone makes enough money to just run out and buy another house. This is the United States of America and we have people in tents 3 years after a disaster? Give me a break! Oh, and we have the trailers sitting here empty that they wasted thousands (millions?) of dollars on, while these people are living in tents or on street corners. But, by all means continue to worry yourself about someone getting something (remember: the trailers are already paid for. someone getting one at this point is not costing you anything)

The entire gulf coast was wiped out. It wasn't like anyone could just go rent an apartment: there weren't any. It wasn't like anyone could go and buy gas for their car and go further inland, there were no stations. They couldn't buy any food either. So--why not go on to work? Oh, the highway was gone! Besides that, many worked in the casinos----guess what! Their jobs were gone, because the casinos were gone! No home, no job, but plenty of bills!

You are not getting it, because you don't want to. Its much easier to think, "it must be thier own fault, it would never happen to me." WRONG. It can happen. When you are in the middle of a storm or flood hanging on to whatever you can find, not knowing if you will be alive to see the end of the storm, watching your life float away; then you can judge.

BRAVO! and from a fellow Mississippian from Biloxi.

 

[golfgal]

For your information the people of Mississippi did get up and help themselves and each other. You don't have a clue what you are talking about. The next day we got out with chain saws and started cutting our way down the highways and into peoples drive ways. Cutting trees off our neighbor's and our own homes. We fixed each others homes, cleaned each others yards, provided food for each other. Not one of us waited for anyone to provide us with anything. Ice and water were needed because we could not get it anywhere. There was no power from Jackson to the coast (probably futher, but thats the distance I know first hand was out of power)

Entire towns were gone, but the people banned together to help each other. FEMA was too busy chasing their own tail. For instance, a town about 30 minutes south of me had no running water or power for many weeks. FEMA could not figure out that they desperatly needed ice and water. A truck was sitting waiting to find out where to go: local sherriff took the truck and the ice and provided for the people who needed it. He had the good sence to figure out who needed the ice while FEMA sat there confused. Local churches provided meals, clothing, water and ice to people that had nothing.

You have no clue what it was like for some of these people. My BIL is in the National Guard, he left his father dying in the hospital in NO, came home and went to help those on the coast. He cried when he saw the people down there. People sitting on the slabs of their homes, crying and rocking, not knowing what to do next. Do not talk down to me about what one should do in a disaster.

No one has pitched a tent waiting for FEMA or anyone else. They are surviving. They have nothing else. They still go to work everyday, but not everyone makes enough money to just run out and buy another house. This is the United States of America and we have people in tents 3 years after a disaster? Give me a break! Oh, and we have the trailers sitting here empty that they wasted thousands (millions?) of dollars on, while these people are living in tents or on street corners. But, by all means continue to worry yourself about someone getting something (remember: the trailers are already paid for. someone getting one at this point is not costing you anything)

The entire gulf coast was wiped out. It wasn't like anyone could just go rent an apartment: there weren't any. It wasn't like anyone could go and buy gas for their car and go further inland, there were no stations. They couldn't buy any food either. So--why not go on to work? Oh, the highway was gone! Besides that, many worked in the casinos----guess what! Their jobs were gone, because the casinos were gone! No home, no job, but plenty of bills!

You are not getting it, because you don't want to. Its much easier to think, "it must be thier own fault, it would never happen to me." WRONG. It can happen. When you are in the middle of a storm or flood hanging on to whatever you can find, not knowing if you will be alive to see the end of the storm, watching your life float away; then you can judge.

I know that when most of you speak of Katrina you are referring more to NOLA than to my state, but I can not help but feel defensive for my fellow Mississipains on the Gulf Coast. When you mention "still living in a FEMA trailer", do you have any idea what a FEMA trailer even looks like? Have you ever lived in an old, cheap, basic mobile home (not much more than a cheap tin can)? Well a FEMA trailer is worse than that. If you would like to see one, please come visit. I can show you hundreds. ( FEMA still doesn't have it together. I am sure these empty trailers would come in handy in Iowa, but they will remain here, unused) No one would prefer a FEMA trailer to the home they had on their beloved gulf coast. FEMA screwed up after Katrina. They ran around offering money to people to make up from their screw up, problem was the money never got to the people who needed it. People got $1000 checks. People that had evacuated, to family mind you. They were sitting somewhere else with power and running water and able to get on the phone to FEMA to apply for the money, while others were down here trying to get their belongings out of the trees and didn't have the ability to call FEMA-so they didn't get the money. Please, do not belittle what these people went through by saying they should be "financially responsible"--you have no idea what happened. And "be prepared"--give me a break! What good is that case of bottled water when you house doesn't exist anymore?? So you can sit there in the comfort of your home, with power and water and say "this is what everyone should do", but until it has happened to you, you have no idea. And the insurance companies? Oh, puhlease!! they didn't pay because they saw a way out, plain and simple. BTW, I know the definition of a flood--its the insurance companies that seem to have a problem with it. These people were told one thing and then the companies did another, and unless you were here and trying to get your house rebuilt you do not know; do not tell me what some report says on some web site. I have seen the people still living in tents. I have seen the homeless on our street corners. I have cried seeing homeless teen-agers; I have bought blankets and food for them in hopes that at least they would be warm and fed. Homeless that came here after this storm. If you are so concerned about your precious tax dollars going to someone else than get up and help a disaster victim, offer them your home and your food and your clothing. Until you do that: you have nothing to say. Should the government help the victims of every disaster? You are damn skippy they should.

Hey, I am just responding to this post about people still living in tents after Katrina waiting for FEMA go help them--don't yell at me, luvsJack is the one saying this.

 

[luvsJack]

Hey, I am just responding to this post about people still living in tents after Katrina waiting for FEMA go help them--don't yell at me, luvsJack is the one saying this.

I posted both of those. I did not say that anyone was waiting in tents for FEMA. I said there are people still living in tents because they cannot rebuild. You assumed they are waiting for a handout.

 

[golfgal]

I posted both of those. I did not say that anyone was waiting in tents for FEMA. I said there are people still living in tents because they cannot rebuild. You assumed they are waiting for a handout.

I do get it, I get it 100% completely with full understanding of the situation, however, the problem STILL comes back to the residents and their failure to plan ahead and protect themselves. If you live in an area prone to flooding, hurricanes, etc. you take precautions to protect yourself and when the government orders an evacuation you leave and don't SHOOT rescue helicopters.

Cedar Rapids, IA is in the same situation that NOLA was in after Katrina. The entire downtown area is under water, some 400 homes are destroyed and 1000's of others damaged. The roads leading in and out of the area are under water or washed out. Everyone that has been to the area says it looks just like NOLA after Katrina.

 

[Tine731]

I do get it, I get it 100% completely with full understanding of the situation, however, the problem STILL comes back to the residents and their failure to plan ahead and protect themselves. If you live in an area prone to flooding, hurricanes, etc. you take precautions to protect yourself and when the government orders an evacuation you leave and don't SHOOT rescue helicopters.

Cedar Rapids, IA is in the same situation that NOLA was in after Katrina. The entire downtown area is under water, some 400 homes are destroyed and 1000's of others damaged. The roads leading in and out of the area are under water or washed out. Everyone that has been to the area says it looks just like NOLA after Katrina.

I have enjoyed reading about this debate and will admit ahead of time that I have not read every post but I am curious, as a person who was affected by Katrina and received help from FEMA, what plans or precautions should we have taken?

 

[luvsJack]

I do get it, I get it 100% completely with full understanding of the situation, however, the problem STILL comes back to the residents and their failure to plan ahead and protect themselves. If you live in an area prone to flooding, hurricanes, etc. you take precautions to protect yourself and when the government orders an evacuation you leave and don't SHOOT rescue helicopters.

Cedar Rapids, IA is in the same situation that NOLA was in after Katrina. The entire downtown area is under water, some 400 homes are destroyed and 1000's of others damaged. The roads leading in and out of the area are under water or washed out. Everyone that has been to the area says it looks just like NOLA after Katrina.

If that even happened it was in NOLA, not in Mississippi. I have told you several times that I am not speaking for NOLA, but for Mississippi. No one in Mississippi shot at anybody, unless it was looters. And, I have never said the situation in Iowas isn't as bad as Katrina. I don't know: I'm not there. I refuse to judge a situation I am not a part of. And for the third or fourth time: the parts of our coast that the homes "flooded" are not prone to floods. They were told they did not need flood insurance, there could not possibly be a flood. They were supposed to be covered by their homeowners. And we do protect ourselves. Everyone does all the things that all the little phamplets and lists tell us to do every hurricane season. But having plenty of batteries, water and canned food didn't help much when you have not house! We all had cash like we are told: no where to spend it. We all filled up our gas tanks: lased a few days, but the gas stations still weren't opened. Evacuated: still had to come back, still had trees on our houses, if we had a house. Most of us really are not idiots, most of us know what to do in case of a hurricane. It doesn't change the devastation.

But, you know what? I can't change what you have already decided to believe. So if that makes you happy: continue to believe it. I sincerely hope that some day you don't have to eat your words. I hope you never have to wake up in the middle of a disaster and think, "oh, it really wasn't their fault."

ETA: I am in no way trying to insult the people in NOLA. They went through more in those days after Katrina than I can ever imagine. There were many different versions of the story of the helicopters being shot at and why, so thats why I said IF it happened.

 

[AmazingGrace]

I was in Biloxi during Katrina and no matter how ready we were with our boxes and evacuation routes and all, nothing could have prepared us for the devastation that the Ms. Coast saw on 8/29/05. The Air Force with all their preps and contingencies were at a loss and what to do with all of us in the shelters on base. The people in charge were scrambling to make sure we all had what we needed. It was a mess, way beyond anyone's control.

The flooding that we saw was not what i would consider your traditional flooding. there was a storm surge that rolled in and rolled out, taking homes, casino barges and people with it. And in Mississippi, from where i was, people were helping each other and giving each other water and ice.

 

[Deb in IA]

I expect them to clear roads, restore utilities, control price gouging etc.

I do not expect them to provide for me, which is what I felt a lot of victims displayed in several recent hurricanes. It is up to me to have a hurricane disaster plan and the supplies needed for my family.

I would agree with this. I would also add: basic law enforcement, protection from looting, building inspection.

I would expect my insurance to cover appropriate expenses in my policy.

I would do as much as I can for myself, and my neighbors. We have a chainsaw and a generator, and we are more than willing to use them.

I would look to other agencies, such as Red Cross, FEMA, as well as other groups - church organizations, etc. for any necessities that I could not get from the above sources.

And I have to put in a plug for our community. Our population in Iowa City is only about 63,000. Yet, last weekend, we filled 1.25 MILLION sandbags. And when they, thankfully, were not needed, we shipped 450 TONS of sandbags to communities farther downstream.

 

[honugirl]

OK, putting on flame retardant suit...

Here goes...

As someone who left my comfy house to go aid others during the 2005 hurricane season and 2006 tornado season, I can offer some insight into what each government agency currently CAN do.

FEMA: offers only the basics of necessities after a disaster if it is available. You must apply with YOUR OWN INSURANCE company first. They must make a declaration before FEMA can offer financial assistance. If your insurance offers a settlement, generally you are not eligible for financial assistance through FEMA. As for the trailers, FEMA has to comply with all local regulations, if a town government does not want a FEMA trailer park or FEMA trailers parked within their city/county limits, FEMA CANNOT override that as much as they may want to. I have seen areas turn down FEMA trailer parks after disasters, this is not FEMA's fault, this is the fault of the local governments. FEMA covers PRIMARY residences only. If you have a summer home on the coast and it gets damaged, you are on your own. You must actually reside in the location that you are requesting assistance for.

SBA (Small Business Administration): Offers low interest loans to people affected by disasters, this is for HOMEOWNERS as well as small business owners. Occasionally I believe they did give some to renters, but I can't remember. Everyone should apply for this because FEMA will look to see if you are getting that before doling out assistance to rebuild. They want you to get a low interest loan first (and the interest rates were really good). These also offer a greater amount of money than FEMA does. A much better deal.

FEMA responders generally are called on an AS NEEDED basis. They determine what the need is before calling us. This could mean we are coming from all over the country. It may take us a few days or longer to get in there. Many of us need a day or two to sort out our own affairs before leaving. Many have other jobs that they do. For most, FEMA is a part time gig which means that we need to clear up things, get time off, etc. before we can go anywhere.

FEMA cannot act until a FEDERAL declaration of disaster has been issued. This is done after local, state, and federal emergency management officials assess the damage. This also takes time. The agency once again cannot usurp local and state laws.

Other charity agencies are used to cover immediate needs. FEMA and other government agencies are not equipped generally to meet those needs. That is why Red Cross and all the other charities are there.

Everyone needs to have a disaster plan and disaster supplies depending on where they live. Practice it, know it, and use it. As the boy scouts say, "Always Be Prepared." Do not count on the government for basic necessities because that's not what they are designed to do.