FEMA factoids

[katty]

excerpt from: http://www.totse.com/en/conspiracy/the_new_world_order/163636.html

It has been reported that FEMA distributed $3.4 billion in aid in 1994, while the states dispensed $625 million.

On Feb. 10, 1997, the FEMA news desk released the agency's Fiscal 1998 Request to Congress covering Oct. 1, 1997, to Sept. 30, 1998. The total request for $3.3 billion covered a projected 9.7 million man-hours, and includes operating accounts of $374 million. Of the $2.8 billion earmarked for the Disaster Relief Fund, almost $2.4 billion was to address real and estimated requirements for 1997 and prior years. Additionally, a contingency fund of $5.8 billion was re-quested to cover variety of anticipated disasters without specific targeting.

The operating accounts contain an allocation of $6.2 million to address certain aspects of the president's counterterrorism initiatives related to 1997. While other monies might later be shifted into this function, the request provides basic notice and justification. FEMA heralds the fact that its request for operating accounts represents a net decrease of $15.2 million from an earlier estimate.

In its fiscal 1998 request, FEMA offered what could most politely be termed a gratuitous statement, to wit: 'Over the past 25 to 30 years, the nation's exposure to losses from natural hazards has increased dramatically...'

This is apparently meant to loosen purse strings and prevent criticism of agency overreach. However, it prompts two questions. One, has our building technology regressed so as to make our infrastructure more damage prone?
Two, are we being told that vis-a-vis all recorded history, the last quarter century in America has sustained most of the bad weather?

If the '12 factor' relating to black ops is applied, one might see true FEMA budget topping $33 billion. Who knows?

Fourteen congressional committees have claimed limited oversight. However, it is generally admitted that such reviews are rubber-stamp exercises. Can FEMA's real focus be on natural calamities? The congressional watchdog unit known as the General Accounting Office conducted as close a study as possible in early 1992. The finding was that less than 10 percent of FEMA's staff was assigned to deal with major storms, hurricanes and the like.

Until media pressure forced the agency to disclose the existence of its Mobile Emer-gency Response Support fleet, not a single MERS had ever been employed in a disaster. These 300 awesome power unit/communications command vehicles capable of self-sustainment for over a month had been deemed far too important to use in the agency's stated mission =A5 that of helping Americans

No rational person would deny the need of a society for a government. Watchdog-ging it, however, is a different matter. Con-gress has done a particularly poor job of oversight. Even if members of Congress do try to become informed about a program, they may be denied. At his discretion, the Secretary of Defense may waive his obligation to brief all but eight senior members of Congress about a secret program.

[Igel]

1. In the last 30-40 years we've built in all kinds of stupid places.

Where there are hurricanes. Floods. Earthquakes.

The US's population's soared in disaster-prone areas; more McMansions; more absurd planning decisions. And we've taken to building with styrofoam and chicken wire.

NOLA's an exception: it was originally built in a disaster-prone area, with absurd planning decisions.