Author Topic: FEMA (Read 1772 times)

SAWgunner · « **on:** May 09, 2006, 10:00:14 AM »

One of my fathers live in Hattiesburg, MS which is about 45 minutes from the coast (The MS coast fared much worse than New Orleans, in case you didn't know) and during a recent visit, he was talking about these trailers that FEMA had brought down.

He stated that these trailers arrived shortly after Katrina hit, and they have been sitting in storage until February of 2006, with the Government paying Lord only knows how much to the locals with some land for storage. One of the guys that was storing them for FEMA said that they are paying anyone with a truck that can tow them, to take them back north somewhere because it is against FEMA regulations to put trailers in a flood area.

Isn't that ridiculous. Sometimes the Government reminds me of a spooiled child that just had wealthy parents that died...they can't seem to blow money fast enough.

Siskiyou · « **Reply #1 on:** May 09, 2006, 05:55:11 PM »

It is hard to keep up with all the FEMA trailer stories. One on the news was that some local areas would not allow the trailers because they violated local building codes. I am sure they want new communites and not a FEMA trailer park for the next 50 years.

For some it is the $ that can be made from the land, not the people.

LeadPoison · « **Reply #2 on:** May 09, 2006, 06:30:15 PM »

Feel as as if I should comment on this because I live in New Orleans...

As of today there are almost 69,000 trailers set up in the area.

There were some lots of trailers in Arkansas and Mississippi that I know of that were not releasing trailers for whatever reason. Stupid I know. They should be released. I do beleive in badly affected areas where the levees had not yet been repaired, trailers were not allowed. Makes sense to me. I can tell you that lots of trailers are set up in flood areas were the levees are okay. I drive by them everyday. I have family and friends living in them.

Still a long way to go down here. I do think 69,000 trailers is a helluva of a lot though. You have to figure that it requires a tow to the location, blocking and securing with straps, sewage hookup, custom steps built for the location, electrical hookup, etc... All paid for by the government.

Brett · « **Reply #3 on:** May 10, 2006, 01:24:37 AM »

You mean all paid for by the tax payers. Folks don't seem to understand that the government does not make money they just redistribute ours.

Why do people build in a flood plain then expect the government to give them a new home or business when, surprise, surprise, it gets washed away? :roll:

SAWgunner · « **Reply #4 on:** May 10, 2006, 03:36:31 AM »

Quote from: Brett

Why do people build in a flood plain then expect the government to give them a new home or business when, surprise, surprise, it gets washed away? :roll:

Because that is where the waterfront property is. People (Well, some people) really don't care much more about the property than the view. That's why Californians get rebuilt after every earthquake, Floridians after every hurricane....at least New Orleans had a rich history. I believe we should restore the historic parts, but leave the rest as spoils.

victorcharlie · « **Reply #5 on:** May 10, 2006, 03:53:52 AM »

Let see if any one knows what the following have in common:

1. The checks in the mail.

2. I'll call you tommorrow.

3. I love you.

4. I'm from the government and I'm here to help.

techshooter · « **Reply #6 on:** May 10, 2006, 04:23:06 AM »

Quote

Let see if any one knows what the following have in common:

1. The checks in the mail.

2. I'll call you tommorrow.

3. I love you.

4. I'm from the government and I'm here to help.

They are all true or false based on the person's heart that says them.

They are not automatically intended as lies, in other words.

Intent true, or a lie? So your view is warped by the friends you hang out with.

In other words it depends on the condition of the heart of the person saying them, and whether positive results follow.

So the common element will be does the person have integrity or not.

Don't throw out the baby with the bath water.

That's my opinion.

SAWgunner · « **Reply #7 on:** May 10, 2006, 04:29:21 AM »

Quote from: techshooter

Quote
Let see if any one knows what the following have in common:

1. The checks in the mail.

2. I'll call you tommorrow.

3. I love you.

4. I'm from the government and I'm here to help.

They are all true or false based on the person's heart that says them.

They are not automatically intended as lies, in other words.

Intent true, or a lie? So your view is warped by the friends you hang out with.

In other words it depends on the condition of the heart of the person saying them, and whether positive results follow.

So the common element will be does the person have integrity or not.

Don't throw out the baby with the bath water.

That's my opinion.

Yep, involuntary emotional responses. They are automatically stated without forethought or sincereness.

Skeptic10787 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 10, 2006, 07:20:21 AM »

Yep, emotion is the key.
So many people think that because there was so much destruction, someone is to blame. I don't see anyone blaming the hurricane.

Like everything else in the media spotlight, katrina was a government scandal, conspiracy, failure of intelligence, racist act, and theft of taxpayer money by the rich. It wasn't a hurricane.

People think the FEMA operation should have been so easy...

victorcharlie · « **Reply #9 on:** May 10, 2006, 10:49:52 AM »

I think any one that depends upon the government, or expects the government to bail them out stands a good chance of being disappointed, and they should be......I'm not sure it's the governments business to insure home owners in a flood plain..............

What is it you expect FEMA to do?

WylieKy · « **Reply #10 on:** May 10, 2006, 11:52:54 AM »

I'm with you victorcharlie. I think FEMA, like many government ran "projects" is a good idea gone bad. I think FEMAs job should be to get emergency assistance to and area, then get that area liveable again after a major disaster (infrastructure), not rebuild houses for people. Especailly when private insurance told them the area was too risky to insure. That should have been the first hint. I'm not talking about NO specifically, but flood plains, coasts, earthquake zones, etc... in general.

I do not think that there should be legislation against building in those areas, but it should be buyer beware, and the rest of us should not have to pick up the tab for someone to get a new beach house every few years.

LeadPoison · « **Reply #11 on:** May 10, 2006, 05:04:05 PM »

There some say that the city should not be rebuilt. Truth be told there are areas like the French Quarter and parts of Uptown that did not flood.

The thing is it takes a lot of others to keep a city going. New Orleans also has one of the biggest ports in American and controls an ENORMOUS amount of the shipping traffic up and down the Mississippi. There needs to be a city here for that reason. Not to mention the culture and history this place has. There isn't another place like it.

Fixing the levees and coastal erosion can be fixed but it takes a lot of money and some vested interests to pull there heads out of you know where.

I think it should be done and must be done.

WylieKy · « **Reply #12 on:** May 11, 2006, 03:12:42 AM »

I have a buddy that has lived in NO since around 97. He spent a couple of months in OH, then went to Mobile, Al for a few weeks, and has now made his way back to NO. This may upset some people, but he made the statement that it was like someone finially flushed the toilett. He said most of the areas destroyed were the newer, ghetto type areas. The historic areas were all built above the flood level and are for the most part fine. He said that the people in NO at this time are the ones that want to be there and have something to contribute, and the riff raff that made life unpleasant for the rest are still scattered to the four winds and unlikely to return while there is work to be done.

LeadPoison · « **Reply #13 on:** May 11, 2006, 06:58:45 PM »

While that is partly true by no means is that an accurate statement by your friend. I can assure some of the nicer areas like Lakeview which represents an enormous area had upwards of 13 feet of water at street level. I have two family members that lost their homes there. Also New Orleans East has plenty of pricey areas that got flooded out. As does areas of Chalmette, Old Metairie, and a few others. This storm affected everyone here. The rich, poor, criminal, white, black, purple, or orange. Katrina didn't discriminate. Things are not fine and dandy by a long shot. Not to mention the Mississippi Gulf Coast...

prairiedog555 · « **Reply #14 on:** October 02, 2006, 11:55:21 AM »

I am a Katrina evacuee. I lived on the West Bank. Got some flooding but not much, but lost my Job. FEMA was very good to me, I felt bad about taking their money, (they gave everybody $2K, some more) but have a family needed money to move on. Asked me if I wanted a trailer, I declined. I moved and found another job. I read where FEMA paid and is stll paying for some people's rent.
That is ridiculous. Why do they owe them? If a disaster strikes FEMA is supposed to be there to help you get on your feet, not support you for life. If my new place, or your home gets ruined do you expect FEMA to pay your rent?
Most Louisianans I know think that it is a racial thing. The Bush people don't want to appear racist since most of the evacuees were Black. But no matter how much money and help they give they will still say they didn't give enough. He is very generous with OUR money.
Everybody has problems in their life, You pick up and go on. We all knew that it would happen some day, The only people I think should be still recieving help is the elderly. If you are young. feel good you are still alive, I do.