FEMA lagging on housing storm victims:still blaming state, local officials

[dajoki]

NYT
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/30/national/nationalspecial/30housing.html?th&emc=th
Housing for Storm's Evacuees Lagging Far Behind U.S. Goals
By ERIC LIPTON and LESLIE EATON
Published: September 30, 2005

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 - After Hurricane Katrina left hundreds of thousands of people homeless, the Federal Emergency Management Agency signed contracts for more than $2 billion in temporary housing, including more than 120,000 trailers and mobile homes. But the agency has placed just 109 Louisiana families in those homes.

A month after the disaster, the federal government's temporary housing effort is stumbling.

The inspector general for the Department of Homeland Security said Wednesday that FEMA was freezing many orders for trailers, although the agency disputes that. Members of Congress, complaining that a $236 million deal to lease three ships to house evacuees was far too expensive, are calling for an investigation. And under an alternative FEMA program to give victims cash to find their own housing, 332,000 households have been approved in just a week.

Federal officials acknowledge that the installation of mobile homes has moved slowly, especially in Louisiana. But they are blaming the disruption caused by Hurricane Rita, as well as local officials in Louisiana.

"We as a federal government can't come in and just place anything anywhere," said James McIntyre, a FEMA spokesman. "This is not a takeover. We have to work within the limitations set by state and local officials."

[pitohui]

1. yeah yeah

in louisiana we are being entirely unreasonable and expect that the trailers be placed where they can safely get sewerage and water, how evil & dysfunctional of us

what part of we have been hit by two major hurricanes in less than a month do they not understand?

there is no point to the trailers if they do not provide clean water, sewer, electric in a safe neighborhood, if they can just be dropped anywhere w. no regard to safety we can all live in blue tarp tents & crap on the ground :sarcasm:

[dajoki]

3. we all know...

they don't give a fuck about the victims of the TWO storms. all they care about is trying to lay blame anywhere but where it belongs and lining their fat-cat corporate buddies pockets with lucrative contracts.
p.s. i hope everything will work out well for you guys, you are in my prayers.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

2. Hey now Michael Brown dealt with 150 disasters.

Those FEMA poeple are very busy. They can't handle them all.

:sarcasm:

[dajoki]

4. yeah...

a disaster for him is stepping in a pile of horse shit.