Indiana residents affected by Saturday’s flooding shouldn’t expect assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency any time soon, and perhaps not at all.
While FEMA inspectors are touring the state assessing the damage, it could be several weeks before federal aid is made available. Gov. Mitch Daniels will have to wait for FEMA to deliver its damage report before requesting a disaster declaration.
According to FEMA spokesman Leo Skinner, only after a declaration of disaster is made will FEMA come to the rescue by setting up a phone number and Web site for individuals to ask for assistance. Ironically, people can receive a loan of up to $200,000 to make repairs, but only $40,000 for loss of property.
The evaluation process moves slower in a flood than in other emergencies, Department of Homeland Security spokesman John Erickson said.
“It takes a little bit more time because you have to wait for the water to recede in some areas, and you have to wait to see the damage until the floodwater is gone,” he said. . . .
For now, Hoosiers suffering flood damage should start cleaning up if they can, Skinner said.
“We recommend they start the cleanup process and don’t wait for federal assistance at this point,” he said. “If they can document any items they’ve lost or any repairs, we would encourage them to do that.” — Indianapolis Star
You heard it straight from the FEMA spokesman’s mouth. Don’t wait for them. They might not even show up at all. Pray they don’t, or southern Indiana could wind up like New Orleans. Travel trailers, anyone?
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Blue
Jun 11, 2008
When tornadoes struck West Tn, N. Mississippi and Northeastern Arkansas earlier this year, officials in West TN delayed cleanup efforts and instructed volunteers to stay away. The reason given was to ensure the “safety” of the cleanup crews, when in reality it was so that federal officials could see the full extent of the damage and release maximize the federal funds available. This happened at the expense of low-income Tennesseans. Because the volunteer efforts were delayed through the weekend following the storms most would-be volunteers just went back to work the following Monday.
Ray
Jun 13, 2008
Why should we have to ask the Feds for help in all but the most disastrous disasters. Our first place to look should be the neighbors.
Jun 15, 2008
Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!
Jun 15, 2008
FEMA: It’s Not About Floods, It’s About Martial Law |
Jun 16, 2008
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Jun 18, 2008
“Strike teams” invade Iowa flood victims’ homes - Homeland Stupidity
Ken
Jun 21, 2008
We seriously need to stop taking their shit.
Ray
Jun 23, 2008
I get exasperated with all these people who are sure that any kind of an incident means that the federal government should come in with “free money”. There is no such thing as free money. That money has to come from somewhere and does come from our pockets.
Now floods and hurricanes are one thing. They hit a big enough area that the local people can’t deal with the needs. But Tornadoes???? Sure there is a small area frequently more devastated than any other type of natural disaster. But it is surrounded by unaffected areas, and a whole state which generally can’t even tell that the event happened. Why do we need federal aid for tornadoes? Local communities and states could deal with these with no real problems if they wanted to. Heck in most cases other than to provide some security government would not even really be needed. That security would not need to even come from a state level. If just a small portion of the towns and cities which have police forces of more than 10 officers sent one officer, and then those with active sheriff’s posses sent 10-20% of the posse even a pretty large tornado path could be secured.
This could be done reasonably and without the big brother thing.
Those communities more likely to have to regularly call upon federal level aid like say Florida or California, should also be required to provide federal level services in disasters elsewhere. There should be government dispatched and supported cleanup teams from Florida helping with the flooding in the midwest right now. And the federal government should not be funding this. Instead the state and local governments should be funding this as their payment for the services that have and will undoubtedly be needed in their areas. When Florida gets hit with the next big hurricane people from the recovered flooded areas and other parts of those states should be on the road to Florida at local government expense to help.
The federal government should be the help of last resort not first resort.
mrguy
Sep 13, 2008
To Ray – You don’t like giving disaster victims getting ‘free money’ as you call it — but you see all of us pay taxes, and we want to see it spent on us, when things like this happen you can’t help but wonder why 10 million can’t be spend on hurricane relief IMMEDIATELY …. right after it happens… but no in that case we need to fend for ourselves but Bush can sign billions and billions a month over to Halliburton for sub par services in Iraq. You see that’s what gets people angry. If the government doesn’t want to help after a natural disaster… FINE, but don’t rape us in taxes then.
Feb 17, 2009
FEMA: It’s Not About Floods, It’s About Martial Law | Police State | Martial Law | United States Liberty