Last month I let you know that the Federal Emergency Management Agency gave out far too much money in disaster assistance for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, mainly because of people defrauding the system. Now FEMA is lowering the boom. It’s sending letters to everyone who got too much money, telling them they now have to pay back the amount of assistance they were overpaid.
“During a disaster, FEMA’s highest priority is helping the people who need it most as quickly as possible,” said acting FEMA director David “Duct Tape” Paulison. “Even as funds are quickly distributed to meet the needs of disaster victims, FEMA takes very seriously our responsibilities to taxpayer dollars, and is careful to make sure funds are distributed appropriately.”
No, it’s more like the Government Accountability Office caught FEMA with their pants down. Completely unprepared for the size and scope of the disaster, and my sources say completely unprepared for the size and scope of even a typical hurricane, FEMA handed out debit cards and checks like candy to anyone who wanted one, with very little verification. Only now is it trying to get the money back.
People who receive one of these letters (PDF) from FEMA will have the ability to appeal FEMA’s decision, but even if they do appeal, they’ll have to pay FEMA immediately to avoid being subject to interest and penalties. If their appeal is successful, then they’ll have the payments they make returned to them.
Those who received a check from the U.S. Treasury can return it uncashed, or people can repay using check, money order, MasterCard or VISA. Anyone who doesn’t appeal and doesn’t pay will have their debts turned over to the Treasury Department for collection, and they will do that by withholding any payment any other part of the federal government might have sent you, such as an income tax refund. And if that’s still not enough, they’ll put a black mark on your credit report, and turn it over to the Department of Justice for prosecution.
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tj
Mar 17, 2006
that’s ridiculous. i’m not a fan of just throwing money at a problem and hoping that fixes it. but it’s too late … you’ve already done the damage. they can’t honestly think the people in that region are in any position to just pay back that kind of money … from MONTHS ago. jeeez.
Ned Harrison
Mar 18, 2006
How like the Feds. “Oops! We changed our minds. You’re not eligable for this disaster assistance we offered you, after all, so we’ll retroactively make it a loan, and call the note due now.”
If I, as a private individual, made a grant for disaster relief, I don’t get any of it back if I changed my mind later. Unless they made false statements when filing their claim or receiving their assistance, anyone who got money ftrom the Fed should be alowed to keep it. We should go after the bunglers we handed it out, instead.
Apr 21, 2006
Citizen journalist 1, MSM 0 - Homeland Security or Homeland Stupidity
florida richardson
Aug 30, 2006
Dear Fema,
After presenting every insurance check,Which did not cover all my
damages, zeroxing every bill,every puschase,showing you people
were the money went, you all still are comming at honest folk
Now i get a bill for 4,600.00
i gave you copies, what did you the do with the copies? I,am
sending more copies. I do no have any money,Iam still eating can soup
working day and night trying to fix my house,Idid not buy tatoos or
get masssges or buy designer condoms,I did the right things,my home
is more important than selfish vanities cut me some slack.
regina rochear
Sep 06, 2006
I recieved one of those letters when I was still living in a hotel via FEMA ,I previously provided recites for every last penny ,its still a horrible cloud above my head,
what sucks is the money they want back ,
went to pay for a hotel that would accept
accept 5 (4 wk old kittens)& the mama cat,& belive me
it wasnt the ritz,it was the adventurer ,Inglewood,california
a nightmare,whats really horrible is that FEMA had the city blocked off so no one could get in,I appreciate the funds
but they wasted so much of my time & treated us like animals at “FEMA city”,in general the workers are nice (mostly)
its the organization & Leaders that CAN BESSAME COOLO,IN OTHER WORDS KISS MY ASS !!!!
regina rochear
Sep 06, 2006
When I got that letter I flipped out,my job is a personal
job that I’ve had to do 2 survive,I a an exotic dancer aka stripper ,entertainer,performer,on Bourbon Street,at Hustler& its hard freakin work,&,FEMA ,wants me to go in that hell hole
& take my clothes off &fight greasy construction guys paws
off me,while being propositioned for “sexo” so I can pay them back ,HELL NO!!Bourbon street sucks now,I don’t have a job,
my house is falling apart,no property loss $$ because the
guy roomate I had got it all & no duplicate household
which is bullshit ,2 weeks prior Katrina I had just moved in that place,hell I didn’t get to move back to this dump til may
my power wasn’t on til febuary,&,now the house is splitting up the walls & most of the roof is laying around the house
regina rochear
Sep 06, 2006
asbestos,the water stinks a toxic smell,I have no car
no income,preety much a prisoner in my house because everytime I walk outside “mamisota”"wouhoo”"yeah baby”
the hoots & hollars & sexual harrasment is endless,theres no way in hell I will be waiting at a bus stop,don’t have money to take a cab,which theres no where 2 go anyway,the “FEMA Inspector”(an elderly blk.Lady w/a garage sale 35mm camera
walked through my house,(11 months after)aimlessly snapped
a photo of the Kitchen mold chlorax couldn’t scrub off
& left,,to her I was living better than she ever has,
never mind the fact I wked my ass off cleaning that place ,&
to her those 1.99 bamboo sunmats from Walgreen, I had as window shades were probley fancy,ughhhhhhhhhhhhhh,I could just screammmm,,especially just thinking of how hard I had to work in the past to furnish my place & all the shit I’ve had to put up with,,Wking the past 6yrs in Bourbon street
strip clubs ,I lived a stylish/comfortable lifestlye
now I have nothing but a fucked up knee & bad back & tiny disability check with medicaid & medicare that does not pay for shit!!!oh I forgot I have my 1.99 bamboo walgreen shades & a $4500 bill from FEMA ,which will probley turn in to jail time because I have ADHD & BIPOLAR ,&,will probley never send the letter in because I want to bitch moan groan & complain on this comment post
regina rochear
Sep 06, 2006
anyway if anyone has a good apeal letter outline or
knows what they need to see other than my heart on a platter
& the apeal letter written in blood ,,post it please
I need to get some kind of funds to get the hell out of this cesspoole of waste & destruction ,New Orleans is absolutely horrible now & no place for a female,granted I
could probley kick 1/2 of these hornballs asses if it canme down to a me or u situation type deal,but damn,I want to leave
Tulane closed its doors 2 the locals,we are too poor
so much for my 2 years wasted at the University College
Dec 08, 2006
FEMA still handing out Katrina cash inappropriately - Homeland Stupidity