FEMA denies Wisconsin disaster aid request

[sabra]

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/mld/sanluisobispo/news/politics/12726083.htm

FEMA denies Wisconsin disaster aid request

Associated Press


WASHINGTON - The Bush administration Friday denied a Wisconsin request for disaster assistance for three counties hit by tornadoes.

"Based on our review of all the information available, it has been determined that the damage was not of such severity and magnitude as to be beyond the capabilities of the state and affected local governments," wrote R. David Paulison, acting under secretary at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, in a letter to Gov. Jim Doyle.

....

They had cited damage to more than 400 homes and to utilities and rural electric cooperatives, as well as the impact on businesses. They also cited crop losses as a result of the Aug. 18 tornadoes.

....

Doyle said he would appeal the decision.

"I'm dismayed by this decision, having seen firsthand the damage these tornadoes caused," Doyle said in a statement. "While I understand that FEMA's resources are strained, the country shouldn't be in the position of having to choose between victims of one disaster and victims of another."

[ewagner]

1. The letter had a P. S.

it was:

That'll teach you to vote for Democrats......

[roseBudd]

2. Isn't Wisconsin a blue state? n/t

[rodeodance]

7. we are blue (barely so during last election).

[Yellow Dog Blues]

23. And Dane is a Very Blue County

WI is a blue state, and Dane County, where one of the most devastating tornadoes hit, is a very blue county.

Saying the destruction was not severe enough is absurd. A couple of towns were absolutely demolished. Hundreds of houses were literally reduced to looking like piles of woodchips.

[sabra]

24. Welcome to DU!

[newyawker99]

27. Hi Yellow Dog Blues!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[rzemanfl]

3. This guy has his head firmly duct taped up his ass. Wisconsin

should annex the Upper Peninsula and then ask to become part of Canada.

[carpe diem]

4. why do i get the feeling if it was tennessee or

utah, they'd have gotten whatever they asked for...

[Cha]

5. I'll bet there are some repukes

in those counties affected by tornadoes who should be mightily PISSED at the Photo Operator.

[LisaL]

11. If it was Alaska, they for sure would have gotten what they asked

for. Million dollar bridges to nowhere, indeed.

[merwin]

12. Florida got denied too

[Verve]

6. WI has a Dem Gov. Therefore, Shrub feels justified to screw him!

[rodeodance]

9. Tammy Baldwin is the Rep (Dem) of some of the area.

.......Based on our review of all the information available, it has been determined that the damage was not of such severity and magnitude as to be beyond the capabilities of the state and affected local governments," wrote R. David Paulison, acting under secretary at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, in a letter to Gov. Jim Doyle.

The governor, with the backing of the state's congressional delegation, had asked that aid be made available for individuals, businesses and local governments in Dane, Richland and Vernon Counties.

They had cited damage to more than 400 homes and to utilities and rural electric cooperatives, as well as the impact on businesses. They also cited crop losses as a result of the Aug. 18 tornadoes.

In all, 28 tornadoes touched down in the state, setting a one-day record. The damage was estimated at more than $47 million.......

[anotherdrew]

14. 28 tornadoes in one day... that would put anyone into a state of emergency

maybe even a room of emergency
fer sure a stomach pump of emergency

(I'm assuming there is a mixed drink called a tornado)

[donsu]

18. just the thought of 28 tornados in one day has me scared stiff

hurricanes I can weather - tornados are quite something else!

[rodeodance]

13. who pushed to allow medication drugs from Canada

[pitohui]

25. don't be too sure that's the reason, i think it's the $$$

i think fema is just plain cheaping out on us

reason, when louisiana was denied for tropical storm bill, we had a republican governor, mike foster, he appealed, it was no use

when texas was denied for tropical storm claudette, i'm pretty sure they already had governor goodhair in office

i think there is no money left thanks to our adventure in iraq because it used to be you never heard of fema denying such requests until 2003, or at least i never did, maybe i was just unaware of previous denials

[Chicago Democrat]

8. Keep Wisconsin Blue!

thanks Bush, like you're a total butthead

[ninkasi]

10. What jerks...

"Based on our review of all the information available, it has been determined that the damage was not of such severity and magnitude as to be beyond the capabilities of the state and affected local governments."

Although the dollar amount might be much smaller than in the states affected by Katrina, and Rita, I'd be willing to bet the tornadoes caused a comparable amount of damage when considering the number of people who sustained damages. If this is in a rural area, it amounts to the same thing.

Fema has been ruined under the Chimp, just like everything else he gets his greedy monkey paws on. State and local governments have had to pick up providing and funding some services which were cut from the federal budget to pay for Chimp's pal's tax cuts.

[fooj]

15. Legally, one would think they couldn't get away with that.

A disaster is a disaster.

Peace.

[KitchenWitch]

16. Yeah, but these people operate within the law only when it suits them

[leesa]

17. Aren't there something like 28 states declared federal disaster areas

just for accepting Katrina victims, but 28 tornadoes doesn't qualify?

[goddess40]

19. The republican's M.O. is blackmail

vote for republicans or you get nothing - you'll get nothing anyway they'll just pretend they gave something.

[hippiechick]

20. If we weren't spending all that money on a disaster known as Iraq ...

... and had actually funded Homeland Security/First Responders/FEMA the way Cokeboy promised he would ... FEMA wouldn't have to cherry pick which domestic disasters it deals with ...

:mad:

[AspenRose]

26. There it is, right there

I hope this wakes some people up....

[Kerri_S]

21. Bush Just Doesn't Like....

Competent Dem governers. Guess if any disaster happens to hit your area, you really are on your own and better not expect any help from the federal government.

I feel sorry for those people who were denied aid because this administration doesn't seem to truly care about the "homeland".

[goddess40]

22. the difference between what TX gets vs. LA will be interesting

I'm sure they will exaggerate the damage in TX so they can give them more - or should I say Halliburton more.