Meridian, Miss. Residents, Evacuees Fed Up With FEMA

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.wtok.com/news/headlines/1830572.html

The last week and a half has been the hardest of Jeff Garcia's life. Forced from his home in Slidell, La., last Monday after floodwaters went over his house, he has been here in Meridian since.

Garcia said he stayed in a hotel with his daughter and grandson until he ran out of money. Now he's looking for help from the federal government.

FEMA is giving out $2,000 debit cards to storm evacuees, but those cards haven't made it to Meridian yet. FEMA is also supposed to be opening an office in Meridian to help victims, but it hasn't happened yet.

And those who have tried to call FEMA's toll free number say all they get is a busy signal.

[tedoll78]

1. It's Blanco & Nagin's fault!

Yup!

[shaniqua6392]

2. I wish the national press would pick up on more of these stories.

They are making everything sound like the affected areas are beginning reconstruction already!!!

[Massachusetts]

4. "I wish the national press would pick up on more of these stories."

The NATIONAL Press HAS BEEN AWOL since Bu$hco pulled the coup d'etat.

[shaniqua6392]

3. The director of MEMA is on MSNBC right now!

Making everything sound fine.

[Spazito]

5. I bet Haley Barbour and Trent Lott's phone's are off the hook too

for all but baby bush and his cohorts.

[SoCalDem]

6. I heard someone say that the cards were for sheltered evacuees ONLY

That people who evacuated on their own, were..well....on their own..

It's the republican way..on your own..with no "interference" from gubbmint:evilgrin:

[pitohui]

9. self evacuees can apply for direct deposits online

most of the local banks are up & running & NOT charging "foreign" ATM fees so if fema puts a direct deposit in yr account, you can access it w.out paying a fee

hibernia, regions, amsouth, chase/bank one, i'm forgetting some but probably all bank acct information from a slidell bank is secure

there are ppl on nola.com who say they already got their direct deposits yesterday

[pushycat]

7. FEMA help where?

It seems MSM keeps saying how good things are going, and the local news says the opposite. It's been nearly two weeks and FEMA still absent? I smell a riot brewing - you can't keep pushing people over the wall in plain sight.

[area51]

10. Welcome.

Welcome to DU, pushycat.

[pitohui]

8. meridian mississippi was harder hit than you think

not like the coast but there was wind damage, lack of power, you couldn't buy gasoline

they're getting the lights on now & gasoline has been re-supplied but it was a real mess, they are not equipped to handle a hurricane so far inland

if it makes mr. garcia feel any better, we ppl w. insurance can't get an adjuster on the phone either so it isn't just fema not picking up the phone

communications are terrible, just that fast busy signal while ppl are running out of money & not knowing where to turn next if they can't hook up w. relatives

neither fema nor the insurers are doing their job of getting in touch w. ppl but if ppl are scattered & cell phone service ain't working & the lines are overloaded, part of the issue is that nobody can get in touch w. anybody to tell them anything

i'm supposed to get living expenses from my insurer while i'm displaced, how much is approved, no idea, can't get anyone on the phone

i'll be fine but there are ppl living paycheck to paycheck who won't be fine if they can't get some $$$ in hand now