why is fema not helping them.?
88956
If the entire US congress can't get to the bottom of this, I don't know what we can do.  They are having hearings right now to try to find out what to do about this horrible mess.  Meanwhile millions of taxpayer dollars are going down the drain.\n\nCall you congress person and demand that something be done!\n\nThat's what I did.
1117291
Yes, This Gov't is too ready to jump for conflict yet when it comes to disaster they leave victims hanging. Look what happened w/Katrina If Gov't had been paying att. to what was happening maybe FEMA wouldn't have been ripped off $1million by people and $ wouldn't have been wasted on those damned trailors that are justsitting in Arkansas. FCKN IDIOTS!!!!
381474
Are you talking ablout situations like the tsunami, where we went to there aid immediatly but when katrina hit no one lifted a finger? its because the world needs us but they do not appreciate are us, when they don't need us thay talk shi* but something bad happens and they want us to help there asses
286290
They were screwed before it happened, while it was happening, and now even the worst, after it happened. They say 3% of the people will receive aid; because 75% have already left the area. Their land is being repossessed as we speak; because they can't live there and pay for the mortgages that have lapsed. The land will be resold. FEMA sent out over 5000 letters last week to recover funds they say they paid out to fraudulent victims of the hurricane. They are charging the money back to the victims. You can find the Article at the New York Times, PBS FRONTLINE, and I am sure many others. The Republicans are glad the African Americans are gone from there, and they don't mind saying it openly.
622225
the governor and mayor both admitted they waited to long to ask for help, the president says the director of fema didnt inform him how bad it really was, everyone has a different story as they are all going to take partial blame and place the rest elsewhere.\n\nbottom line is that no one was doing their job to the best of their abilities during that terrible occurence.
547745
Because New Orleans was being run by a dumb *ss who sat back and waited for the Feds to come handle everything for him. And his contingency followed his idiotic example. \n\nHere in FL, we didn't have those problems, despite being hit by four hurricanes in a row. We got off our butts and prepared. Lesson learned? \n\nNo, they still think it's W's fault.
182994
Forget FEMA, ... the debacle was that people in the gulf-coast actually thought that government would rescue them.   We will know better next time.  The government is completely broken.
156749
No.  They were given $40,000, but not from FEMA.  It came from the NFL.
31495
they were the opposite of effective. they actively sabotaged relief efforts after Katrina.\nThey were caught cutting communications lines, turning back relief aid and a whole bunch of shenanigans.\nFEMA is the part of the government you should fear whenever there is a national emergency. The executive orders that FEMA can activate paint nothing less than a picture of a pure dystopia.
1170916
I am sorry to hear that--and very angry.  I was at the gulf coast not too long ago and saw some of the damage.....\n\nFirst of all, go through the fine print of the insurance to see if you can find anything on them cancelling insurance because of that storm.  Next, make sure that all premiums were paid, that nothing was beyond a due date.\n\nThen call Federel Emergency Assistance Program--now under the umbrella of Homeland Security and explain them your situation and that you do need emergency assistance.  To be honest, if I were in your shoes, I also would mobilize newspapers and radio stations to make everyone aware of this, because you are probably not the only one who has to go through this canellation.\n\nIn the meantime, go to the Salvation Army to see if they can help you out with some financial assistance.  Usually the local YWcA, the Homeless Shelters, and a lot of Christian agencies do get grants for this kind of thing.  No one should lose their home over something like this--absolutely no one.\nGood Luck
363236
FEMA needs to be returned to being an Agency directly under the President. Away from Dept. Homeland Security. (At least the portion of FEMA that does disaster response and recovery.) Adding another entity between FEMA's ability to respond and the president has only created more red-tape. \n\nDHS is mostly concerned w/ terrorism (which is important) - but their focus has forced FEMA to not be able to focus on their mission of helping disaster victims.
241481
FEMA itself probably doesn't drive the trucks - they probably hire contractors which could be any of the trucking companies.  Maybe FEMA has a website that has a list of the companies they contracted with... You can also write to them (e-mail to their website ok) for a list of the trucking companies - tell them you are asking under the Freedom of Information Act and as long as you're not asking for proprietary/business sensitive info, they'll have to give you a list... Then start calling these companies, sending inquiries & resumes.  Good luck
280574
There are a lot of interesting explanations for the response to Katrina, and there is some truth in all of them. The breach of the levee definitely made everything much worse than it might have been otherwise. However, the reality is that every year that part of the country is hit hard with hurricanes, and every year the country holds its breath wondering where they will hit and how many there will be. Every disaster response organization including the Red Cross say that every one should be prepared to rely on themselves for at least 72 hours after an event because it may take that long for emergency personnel to arrive. (For two reasons 1) emergency response personnel may not be able to get into an area right away, and 2) the number of people in need may exceed the immediately available resources). Family preparation is not the responsibility of the government. People should prepare themselves - especially in a place where certain disasters repeat themselves on a regular basis. Communities are responsible for preparing for themselves and responding. Also, the question exists as to whether FEMA is a first responder department, or one that is mandated to assist regions in the aftermath of a disaster. And actually, my understanding is that one problem was that there were so many people running around trying to help that it was impossible to maintain communication lines. And many of the people who were trying to help didn't know what they were doing. It is more helpful to refrain from seeking blame, and to invest energy into one's own community and pantry. Are you ready should an unexpected event hit you? Are you ready and able to help the elderly, handicapped, or single parent with children who live next door or down the block? Do you have water and, at least, a few candy bars tucked away just in case? Do you have some kind of plan for your kids if there is an emergency? Take care of yourselves and you will make it much easier for everyone.
966574
I was pleased to see your question mentioned the "areas" affected and not just New Orleans.  New Orleans damage was not inflicted by the hurricane, but the levy breach.  The Mississippi Gulf Coast was decimated.  There are still residents who do not yet have a FEMA trailer, and its 14 months plus after the fact.  There are many insurance companies who are not paying because the damage was "flood" damage, and not covered.  HELLO!  The "flood" was caused by a hurricane!!!!!\n\nNo, the government has not done enough.  They have spent far too much time worrying about how to go about it and too little time getting their proverbial hands dirty and actually doing the work.  Church and college groups in this area are continuing to go down and help with demolition and rebuilding - weekly.  There are still mountains of debris that has not been removed.  \n\nThis Thanksgiving and Christmas season, there are thousands of families who are facing their second holiday season without a real home, and still with no answers from the federal government, state government or their insurance companies.  And the national media continues to focus on "New Orleans".  Our nation lost National Historic Sites on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, "Beauvoir", the home of Jefferson Davis being one of them.  Major damage in the state of Mississippi extended as far inland as Jackson, Meridian and even as far north as Tupelo and New Albany.  The scope of this was diminished in the national media, and has largely been relegated to history by many American citizens.  It is not history to the residents who are living in FEMA trailers, or tents, still fighting insurance companies, still have no jobs because the companies are not back up and running - I could go on and on.\n\nSo, no, I think the government has done a grave disservice to those citizens who were left homeless, jobless, and in many cases only with the clothing on their backs by Katrina.  And these "celebrities" keep showing how they have built this house or that house - there is still tons to do.  This problem is not fixed - not by a long shot.
1139478
that's horrible that the police wont listen to you! aren't they supposed to be there for us when we are in need. What happens when you are right? they will be sorry.
908055
There are loads of things FEMA can do with them. I would rather see them given away then just sit there and rot. There are plenty of homeless families all over the US who would be glad to have one.
959813
Ohmygosh, THAT'S what's going on???? They are staging the emergency!!!!*sigh*