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Two families' plights typify poor FEMA response to disasters
Naples Daily News ^ | November 23, 2005 | By JEREMY COX

Posted on 11/23/2005 6:25:11 AM PST by TonyWojo

Its stated goals are broad and rarely ever fully reached: planning for, responding to and mollifying disasters.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has drawn fire for more than a year on several fronts, from the fraud that followed last year's Florida hurricanes to the unbearably slow response to Hurricane Katrina's victims.

When Hurricane Wilma barreled across southern Florida in October, the agency faced a familiar test.

Millions lost power. Hundreds lost homes. Local governments grappled with clearing beach sand, countless trees and other detritus from roads.

Nearly a month later across Southwest Florida, most residents have recovered from the Category 3 hurricane, but some have been left behind.

The stories of two women with Southwest Florida ties and their struggles with FEMA after Wilma highlight the problems of an agency that tries to do so much.

Moving mother

(Excerpt) Read more at naplesnews.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: fema; katrina; katrinafraud; scam; wilma

1 posted on 11/23/2005 6:25:12 AM PST by TonyWojo
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To: TonyWojo

2 out of how many?


2 posted on 11/23/2005 6:28:45 AM PST by sure_fine (*not one to over kill the thought process*)
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To: TonyWojo
her family wasn't able to raise the $3,800 it would cost to place her in the family's plot..... At the time, Rolls, one of Howell's seven children......They're going to pay something ... even if it's President Bush. Make it come out of his pocket."

Seven children and they cannot come up with $3,800.00 That is 542.86 each.

What a pathetic group.

3 posted on 11/23/2005 6:32:31 AM PST by TonyWojo
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To: TonyWojo
Daddies gone, welfare a way of life BEFORE the hurricane...now she's pissed because her Mom (living in a flop house with other non family members) was given a paupers burial and she didn't get the $7500 from FEMA. She "can't" work because of back pain..Life sucks lady.
4 posted on 11/23/2005 6:32:34 AM PST by Dallas59 (“You love life, while we love death.” - Al-Qaeda / Democratic Party)
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To: TonyWojo
the fraud that followed last year's Florida hurricanes to the unbearably slow response to Hurricane Katrina's victims.

Nobody ever seems to comment on the indisputable fact that these two complaints are inter-related.

The faster you issue relief, the fewer the precautions you are able to take against fraud and therefore the more likely it becomes.

Conversely, when you take more precautions to prevent fraud, it greatly slows up the process of providing aid.

The press seems to be unable to recognize the fact that you cannot have quick response without some degree of fraud.

5 posted on 11/23/2005 6:32:42 AM PST by Restorer (Illegitimati non carborundum)
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To: TonyWojo

Well, well, well.

The last time a hurricane came through here it knocked a bunch of the pine trees down. Using my father-in-laws chain saw we cleared his driveway and the street in front of his home. We then worked our way down the street helping others clear their driveways.

Families helping families, neighbors helping neighbors and the church getting together and helping those without family.

Works every time.

Don't have family, don't know your neighbors and don't have a church? Well I guess a person can sit, cry and wait for the government to come save them.


6 posted on 11/23/2005 6:33:48 AM PST by PeteB570 (Guns, what real men want for Christmas)
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To: Dallas59
Did I mention she has SEVEN kids...and no Daddies around?
7 posted on 11/23/2005 6:34:37 AM PST by Dallas59 (“You love life, while we love death.” - Al-Qaeda / Democratic Party)
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To: TonyWojo

I am getting sick and tired of the whining it is FEMA's fault -- what about neighbors and citizens of the area pitching in instead of wanting federal dollars to handle everything.

Maybe it is time to go back to the barn raising days when fellow farmers helped build barns or would bring in the harvest if the farmer was ill. Lot of people in this Country have forgotten that not everything will be handed to them and it is time for some folks to get some gumption and handle their own problems.

What happened before FEMA when a hurricane struck? You live in Florida, then you had better be prepared to handle a hurricane. These are natural disasters, and it would be nice to see some regular citizens take responsibility instead of having their hands out for the Fed checks.

My mini rant!


8 posted on 11/23/2005 6:35:03 AM PST by PhiKapMom (AOII MOM -- Istook for OK Governor in 2006!)
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To: TonyWojo
If the reporter wanted to be accurate, s/he would say, "provides ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE of" instead of "typifies"...

Perhaps, though, these stories might convince people NOT TO RELY ON THE GOVERNMENT TO SAVE THEM.

9 posted on 11/23/2005 6:35:31 AM PST by SoFloFreeper
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To: TonyWojo

Those that went to work to improve their situation are better off than those standing at the curb with their hands in their pockets waiting for FEMA, or anyone for that matter, to come along and save them. The M in FEMA stands for Management. What happened to all the illegals in the area? They don't ask for that kind of help because they have to fill out way too many forms, give too much information which exposes their illegal position, and lean on a foreign government that they see as wanting to send them home. Government has stolen charity from the American people and turned it into an entitlement attitude dependent on color, race, sex, etc.


10 posted on 11/23/2005 6:38:15 AM PST by right right
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To: TonyWojo
---yeah---the Vegas area media is full of sob stories about "the money running out for the Katrina survivors" --and in the meantime the casinos are hiring anybody between 21 and 45 who can speak coherently and walk a straight line, while the restaurants and fast food places can't even be that particular---
11 posted on 11/23/2005 6:57:47 AM PST by rellimpank (urbanites don' t understand the cultural deprivation of not being raised on a farm:NRABenefactor)
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To: TonyWojo
"Its stated goals are broad and rarely ever fully reached: planning for, responding to and mollifying disasters."

So, central planning and socialism don't work.

And we are surprised because....?

12 posted on 11/23/2005 7:02:36 AM PST by nightdriver
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To: Dallas59

Oh, I'm sure the Daddies are around. . .knocking up other women. . .and adding even MORE to the Welfare Rolls. . . .


13 posted on 11/23/2005 7:34:10 AM PST by Salgak (Acme Lasers presents: The Energizer Border: I dare you to try and cross it. . .)
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To: Salgak

It has been nuts with Red Cross, FEMA,, and local governments falling all over themselves to coordinate distribution of fre ice, meals and water that we do not need with the grocery stores open the next day! Nothing on the radio for 10 days but this.


14 posted on 11/23/2005 7:55:20 AM PST by ClaireSolt (.)
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To: PeteB570

Families helping families, neighbors helping neighbors and the church getting together and helping those without family.


-----I agree with you


15 posted on 11/23/2005 9:56:03 AM PST by WasDougsLamb (I refuse to have a battle of wits with an unarmed man.)
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