FEMA Failing again, and where's Obama?

[cali]

Things in KY are pretty dire for a lot of people. 11 have died as a result of the terrible weather and hundreds of thousands are still without power.

Life after ice storm dire, getting worse in spots
Associated Press Writer – Fri Jan 30, 6:35 pm ET

In some parts of rural Kentucky, they're getting water the old-fashioned way — with pails from a creek. There's not room for one more sleeping bag on the shelter floor. The creative are flushing their toilets with melted snow.

At least 42 people have died, including 11 in Kentucky, and conditions are worsening in many places days after an ice storm knocked out power to 1.3 million customers from the Plains to the East Coast. And with no hope that the lights will come back on soon, small communities are frantically struggling to help their residents.

On Friday, one county put it bluntly: It can't.

"We're asking people to pack a suitcase and head south and find a motel if they have the means, because we can't service everybody in our shelter," said Crittenden County Judge-Executive Fred Brown, who oversees about 9,000 people, many of whom are sleeping in the town's elementary school.

Local officials were growing angry with what they said was a lack of help from the state and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. In Grayson County, about 80 miles southwest of Louisville, Emergency Management Director Randell Smith said the 25 National Guardsmen who have responded have no chain saws to clear fallen trees.

<snip>

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090130/ap_on_re_us/winter_storm_outages;_ylt=AotxPVjpY1r_G8q6setPSIx34T0D

I'd like to see Obama get out in front of this disaster. And to all KY and AR DUers, stay warm and safe.

[bigtree]

1. FEMA is acting under President Obama's emergency declaration

Help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) began arriving in Kentucky Friday, and in many areas devastated by the winter storm the lights slowly were coming back on.

Here's a look at some of the many questions Kentuckians are asking as the recovery continues:

What is FEMA doing to help?

The federal agency's initial efforts are aimed at supporting critical emergency facilities — such as shelters, nursing homes, hospitals and other health facilities — with food, water and electrical generating equipment.

Requests for fuel and communications also are being filled. Initial shipments began arriving at Fort Campbell on Friday, and were being turned over to state officials for distribution to areas where they are needed, said Mary Hudak, a FEMA spokeswoman in Atlanta.

FEMA is acting under President Obama's emergency declaration. Much of the aid will go to the more than 140 shelters that have been opened around Kentucky.

What Kentucky counties are covered under the president's emergency declaration?

The 61 counties are Allen, Anderson, Barren, Bath, Boyd, Boyle, Breathitt, Breckinridge, Butler, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Clark, Crittenden, Daviess, Edmonson, Elliott, Estill, Fayette, Floyd, Fulton, Garrard, Graves, Grayson, Hardin, Harrison, Hart, Hickman, Hopkins, Jackson, Jessamine, Johnson, Larue, Lincoln, Logan, Lyon, Madison, Magoffin, Marion, Marshall, Mason, McCracken, Meade, Mercer, Metcalfe, Morgan, Muhlenberg, Nelson, Nicholas, Ohio, Owsley, Perry, Powell, Shelby, Todd, Trigg, Union, Washington, Webster, Wolfe and Woodford.

What about help for individuals?

Monica French, a spokeswoman for the Kentucky Division of Disaster and Emergency Services, said the state has not yet requested FEMA assistance for individual storm victims.

"Right now, our main concern is emergency relief," French said. "We want to make sure people are safe and warm and that critical infrastructure is working properly. We're trying to meet the basic necessities."

Hudak said FEMA's next objective will be to assess the impact of the storm and determine what other needs have to be addressed.

"I feel confident we will respond to whatever requests the governor will make," she said.

What about insurance and storm damage?

State officials are urging Kentuckians to contact their insurance agents quickly to determine what damage is covered by insurance, how long they have to file claims, and what information they will need to provide.


more: http://www.kentucky.com/787/story/678068.html

[glowing]

3. Let's not forget, Obama has been in office for 10 days. Janet

Napolatino(sp) has been on the job for about that long. There is no way that Obama and his admin. has been able to fix the mess that is Homeland Security... FEMA is still run by that dept. There is no way policies and people and direction is ready after 10 days. Of course, with a spending money on infrastructure, specifically on the electric grid, future storms will be handled easier and faster. It took 8yrs for Bush to mess this country up even worse than politicians normally do, it will take more than 10 days to fix the disaster Bush has left behind.

[bigtree]

5. looks like he's doing everything he can for Kentucky

. . . at least what they've asked for.

It's the op who's complaining here . . .

[Ian David]

2. Obama's been President for 11 days, and already it's so cold that water itself is freezing. n/t

[Raven]

4. God made heaven and earth in a week. What's the matter with Obama?

[bigtree]

6. I can't find where he's done anything wrong here

. . . or his FEMA :shrug:

[madmom]

7. My daughter goes to college in southern Ohio, they too are without power.

She finally came home Friday, after being without power since Wednesday about 6:00pm. She was telling us of dorms being evacuated,no power, no water, no food. No hotels in the area, those who have power are all full.The students who could went home but there are many foreign exchange students and students who can't get home because they live to far away.There are many students still there because like many college students they have no money to go any where,so they have to tough it out. They did call in the red cross to help with food. I don't know if southern Ohio has declared (disaster) or not.

[Raven]

8. The NH blackout in December lasted almost 2 weeks. FEMA came

in to assess damage but it was the National Guard, the power company and local emergency folks who did most of the work.

[goforit]

9. People should pull together and correct these problems before disaster hits.

[NightWatcher]

10. you. are. on. your. own

FEMA help is a great thing when you can get it, but the only person that you can count on is yourself.

Plan ahead, be prepared, have supplies, and a support structure.

[Hugabear]

11. Gee, that sounds an awful lot like what Dubya said after Katrina

Hey, you folks were told to get out and you didn't. You're on your own until we get around to it.