FEMA Director Michael D. Brown's earlier scandal

[starroute]

I just posted this on a thread about Brown from several hours ago -- but at the rate things are moving, I thought it had better have a thread of its own. It seems that Michael D. Brown, the blitheringly incompetent head of FEMA, was involved in some interesting goings-on back last winter;

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/sfl-fema24nov24,0,2387830.story?coll=sfla-news-utility

Florida lawmakers Tuesday called for state and federal investigations into how the government approved about $28 million in Hurricane Frances claims for new furniture, clothes and appliances for residents of Miami-Dade County, which was barely touched by the storm.

<snip>

The actions follow a report in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel Sunday that hurricane relief in Miami-Dade bought thousands of new televisions, microwaves, refrigerators and other appliances. FEMA paid for new cars, dental bills and a funeral, even though the county Medical Examiner recorded no deaths from Frances.

FEMA inspectors attributed damage to tornados -- there were none recorded in the county -- and in six instances listed "ice/snow" as the cause, the newspaper reported.

<snip>

Shaw wrote to FEMA Director Michael D. Brown six weeks ago, after the newspaper first reported that thousands of Miami-Dade residents had collected hurricane relief from the Labor Day storm that hit 100 miles to the north. Brown announced that FEMA would investigate, but so far has not provided any results or returned phone calls from the congressman's staff, said Shaw, chairman of Florida's delegation.

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/01/25/State/Suspect_in_kidnapping.shtml

FEMA Director Michael D. Brown has "stymied investigations" and failed to accept responsibility for mistakes that led to more than $30-million in Hurricane Frances payments to residents of Miami-Dade, even though the county experienced "no more than a heavy rainstorm," Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Fla., wrote to Bush.

"Such a gross waste of taxpayer monies cannot be taken lightly," Wexler wrote.

Bush had not seen Wexler's letter but stands by Brown, said Taylor Gross, a White House spokesman. "The president has full faith in the outstanding job that Under Secretary Mike Brown and FEMA are doing in providing assistance to hurricane victims."

FEMA issued a statement saying the agency will cooperate with an ongoing criminal investigation by the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general into allegations of fraud in Miami-Dade.

[havocmom]

1. Because things are moving fast

:kick:

[starroute]

2. Here's another piece of the story

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/sfl-fema23mar23,0,5144922.story?coll=sfla-news-utility

As the second hurricane in less than a month bore down on Florida last fall, a federal consultant predicted a "huge mess" that could reflect poorly on President Bush and suggested that his re-election staff be brought in to minimize any political liability, records show.

Two weeks later, a Florida official summarizing the hurricane response wrote that the Federal Emergency Management Agency was handing out housing assistance "to everyone who needs it without asking for much information of any kind."

The records are contained in hundreds of pages of Gov. Jeb Bush's storm-related e-mails initially requested by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel Oct. 13. The governor's office finally released the documents Friday, after threat of a lawsuit by the newspaper.

Democrats in Washington said the records confirm suspicions that the federal government used the hurricanes to funnel money to Florida, a key battleground state in the presidential election. "They weren't really asking for information, yet they were just doling out this money like it was Christmas," said Lale Mamaux, spokeswoman for U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Boca Raton.

[starroute]

4. This gives more details

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-1371045,00.html

Frances, which ripped roofs off thousands of houses and flattened mobile homes further up the coast on September 5, appears to have been more selective in Miami-Dade, showing a particular knack for seeking out people’s electrical goods while leaving the structures that protected them largely unscathed.

Government aid has paid for 5,260 new televisions, 1,440 air conditioning units, 1,131 washing machines or tumble driers, 1,360 beds and 831 dining tables and chairs, according to Federal Emergency Management Agency records. One family claimed costs for a relative’s funeral, even though no storm-related deaths were recorded in the county, and 604 claimants got new cars.

<snip>

The agency paid to replace 195,909 items allegedly whisked away by tornados: the weather service did not record a single twister in the area. Frances, the third of the four hurricanes, caused 13 deaths in Florida, recording top gusts of 145mph. In Miami-Dade the top recorded wind speed was a gust of 59mph that lasted less than a minute.

<snip>

The prompt disbursement by the federal government of billions of dollars in aid following the hurricanes, and a visit by George W. Bush to storm-ravaged communities, is believed to have contributed to the Republicans’ victory in the State in the US elections.

[MO_Dem]

3. Aha! Thank you, guys!

This explains a lot! Baghdad Bob Brown is not imcompetent--he's a crook!

[flyarm]

5. I HAVE BEEN SCREAMING ABOUT THIS FOR ALMOST A YEAR

TO DEAF EARS!!

they finally this spring started asking the people of miami for the money back..money the people have already spent!

that money was spent to buy * miami...

hurricanes that hit miami=0

and those on the west coast just started getting repairs in march and april of this spring!

fly

[MO_Dem]

6. Now that the press has found their backbones

I wonder if they will question this looter of tax dollars?

[KittyWampus]

7. this is dynamite that could blow Jeb away as well. Wexler is great

[MO_Dem]

8. Kick

nt

[Independent_Liberal]

9. Kick!

[tkmorris]

10. Miami-Dade and Broward denied by FEMA after Katrina

Even though Katrina actually hit them pretty hard, unlike Frances last year. In fact there were 7 deaths attributed to Katrina as she passed last week. FEMA is one of the worst run govt agencies I have ever seen.

[Trevelyan]

20. Kick Wow! The people at DU can find anything - All this info

surely must bring down Bushco soon. Be in Washington, DC for the occupation of OUR NATION'S CAPTIAL to take it back from the crooks on Sept. 24!!!



O8) :dem: :kick: :kick:

[PinkyisBlue]

21. FEMA one of the worst run govt agencies

But only since Bush took it over, changed its leadership and privatized much of the work it does. Another casualty of Bushco.

[GreenPartyVoter]

11. Get this to Keith O and Cooper Anderson

---------------------------------------------------------
Would Jesus love a liberal? You bet!
http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/liberalchristians.htm

[Eloriel]

15. Yes, please n/t

[rumpel]

12. thanks for the info.

[Synnical]

13. Please, please cross post in the Florida forum

So that it will be saved.

Thanks.

[Eloriel]

14. OMG. I am speechless.

And this guy is an ATTORNEY. :puke: <--- and that doesn't even begin to cover how I feel

[The_Casual_Observer]

16. That guy is a murderer. He need to be hung along with george bush.

[riverwalker]

17. looting! FEMA looters

that f%$#er

[riverwalker]

18. send to media

send to Cafferty, Aaron Brown, Ted Koppel. I know it's late, but this need to be known.

[habitual]

19. these guys have the best scam going!

if anything ever gets exposed, just investigate yourself and find you've done nothing wrong.

They have lost any sense of accountability while becoming masters of avoiding any.

[Shallah Kali]

22. So what's next for Brown? Head of Homeland Security or Medal of freedom?

Gotta ensure the maxium level of incomptence continues and is rewarded.... :scarcasm

[Binka]

23. Fecking Asshole These Bums Are THICK AS THIEVES

Fuckwittage.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

24. So they bought votes with FEMA money?

[nonconformist]

25. Kick. nt

[frictionlessO]

26. kicked for truth! n/t