Gulfport Family, Escaping Katrina, Finds U.S. Aid Is Brick Wall

[UpInArms]

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=aiIeztcgOXOg&refer=us

Sept. 12 (Bloomberg) -- Destiny Beverly now plays with borrowed toys. The 6-year-old lost her own dolls when Hurricane Katrina ravaged her family's apartment in Gulfport, Mississippi.

With her father serving in the U.S. Army in Iraq, Destiny and her brother, sister and mother fled to a friend's home as the storm raged. A pecan tree blew through the roof, just missing the huddled family.

<snip>

After four days struggling to find food and water, and avoid roving looters, the family managed to take shelter with relatives in Jackson, the state capital. There, they face a new ordeal: Two weeks after Katrina struck on Aug. 29, federal disaster aid has yet to reach the Beverlys and other evacuees in Jackson.

<snip>

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, hasn't yet sent representatives to Jackson. At the state fairground, where the American Red Cross and other private and local agencies are attempting to aid evacuees, FEMA hasn't set up a table. The agency, which is responsible for coordinating the national recovery effort, has been criticized by lawmakers and local officials for a tardy response.

...more...

[OneGrassRoot]

1. I'm telling ya...........

I really feel the potential for a revolt (minor as it may be) within the military is prime. The government neglects them in helping them overseas and when they get home, and now they've neglected their families while they are away. There's building resentment there, especially with such a large percentage of our military being minorities.

[Javaman]

10. I think you may have something there...

between the lack of care, supplies or FEMA helping these people, there has been giant cuts to veterns benefits and pay to the soldiers.

[goforit]

2. This is why I would never give One dime to the RED CROSS!!!!

[Toots]

4. Why is that?

Red Cross was there offering aid but FEMA was not.

[Miss Chybil]

8. Read slower.

You still don't have to give a dime to the Red Cross, but your comment does not apply to the text. The Red Cross was there helping people, FEMA was not.

[Inland]

3. FEMA mistakenly went to Jacksonville, FL

Then to Jackson Hole, Wyo., then....

[pushycat]

5. FEMA lost in space

How do you know about the different 'Jackson' places FEMA went to? This sounds like such a sick joke, I hope its not true

[nyhuskyfan]

6. It's a joke - based on truth, though...

FEMA sent a planeload of evacuees needing medical attention to Charletson, WV -- and alerted the authorities in Charleston, SC. So the SC hospitals scrambled to get themselves ready for a plane that never arrived.

[pushycat]

9. positively sinister, cynical, deadly instructions from FEMA

Can't believe so many wires got crossed (or deliberately cut) by FEMA employees. Would sure like to see a transcript of all FEMA communications from Sept. 26 thru the present, complete with phone #'s, names, dates ordered chronologically and published to the web for all to see. We can take it from there...

[sam sarrha]

7. they are lost in a Horse Barn..

[susanr516]

11. Same problem in Corpus Christi TX

I went to one of the shelters yesterday afternoon to help displaced residents with the FEMA applications. The local Salvation Army man told me FEMA had assured him they would be there on Fri., and still no sign of them yet.