FEMA denies Florida appeal for individual Katrina aid

[DoYouEverWonder]

Sep 22, 2005

MIAMI (AP) -- Rejecting an appeal from Florida officials, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has determined a second time that Hurricane Katrina damage in the state was not bad enough to warrant individual disaster payments.

Daniel Craig, director of FEMA's recovery division, said in a letter Wednesday to state officials that additional disaster surveys in Miami-Dade and Broward counties support FEMA's previous conclusion that damage "is not of the severity and magnitude" necessary for individual assistance.

"The damage identified in the requested counties is not beyond the combined capabilities of the state and affected local governments," Craig wrote to state emergency management chief Craig Fugate.

Florida, however, has no individual disaster assistance program, Fugate told FEMA officials in a Sept. 6 letter.

"The state does not have the capability to provide financial assistance to disaster victims," Fugate said.

http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FL_KATRINA_AID_FLORIDA_FLOL-?SITE=FLPET&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=state.shtml&CTIME=2005-09-22-15-04-53


Too bad this wasn't another election year. The people in Miami could have gotten all the aid they wanted then.

[liberalhistorian]

1. My question is,

why the hell DOESN'T Florida have an individual state disaster prgram, or the "capability to provide financial assistance to disaster victims", given that it's prone to natural disasters like hurricanes? That makes no sense whatsoever.

[malaise]

2. So will brother Jeb

have to refund FEMA the $31m that was shared out in Dade county after those three hurricanes which never touched that county last year.

[FloridaPat]

3. It's not an election year. What do these people think they should get?

Some people. Wait until next year. FEMA might be more generous.

[bluestateguy]

4. They're not going to support folks in Dade and Broward counties

Look at the election returns. Unless the damage is confined to the Cuban neighborhoods in Dade County, the Bush controlled FEMA will not do anything.

[iamjoy]

5. Not So, bluestateguy

last year, after the frackin four, people in Dade and Broward got money from FEMA even though no one in those counties lost more than a few nights sleep from the hurricanes.

Florida pat got it right. Last year was an election year, they were kissing butt.