FEMA Wants $4.7M Katrina Benefits Repaid

[deadparrot]

JACKSON, Miss. - More than 2,000 Mississippi residents were notified that they must repay millions of dollars in federal Hurricane Katrina benefits that were excessive or, in some cases, fraudulent.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is seeking a total of $4.7 million from 2,044 people, giving them 30 days to repay or set up a payment plan.

Some storm victims got duplicate or extra benefits because of FEMA errors, agency spokesman Eugene Brezany said, and others might have received benefits for expenses that later were reimbursed by insurance settlements.

Some others benefited "by intentional misrepresentation" or the mistaken belief that secondary residences qualified for payments, he said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060421/ap_on_re_us/katrina_repayments

[rodeodance]

1. what about the contractors?--go after them!

[justice1]

2. That's what I was thinking.

As soon as I saw the headline, I knew it wasn't going to be the contractors. This administration is so predictable, I feel like a psychic.

[OKNancy]

3. kick

[Sugar Smack]

4. FEMA wants money back from Katrina victims

By RON HARRIST

"JACKSON, Miss. Apr 21, 2006 (AP)— Thousands of Gulf Coast residents have been told they must repay millions of dollars in federal Hurricane Katrina benefits that were excessive or, in some cases, fraudulent.

In Mississippi alone, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said it is seeking $4.7 million from 2,044 people, giving them 30 days to repay or set up a payment plan.

Some storm victims got duplicate or extra benefits because of FEMA errors, agency spokesman Eugene Brezany said, and others might have received benefits for expenses that later were reimbursed by insurance settlements."

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=1873369&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312

[judaspriestess]

5. why doesn't the government ask for the BILLIONS

its owed from halliburton? this is complete utter bullshit.

[Sugar Smack]

9. I know, yet some people are saying,

"But some of them stole". WAAAH. So WHAT. If I were desperate and had NOTHING to my name, and someone made a mistake in my favor, SO BE IT.

:nuke:

[democracyindanger]

10. The people who stole

weren't victims at all and didn't need any assistance. They took resources from those who really needed them.

[converted_democrat]

13. Not completely true.. This is the second time FEMA has f'ed up like

this.. Here in FL. they overpaid victims, but the victims didn't know how much they were supposed to get in the first place, and then FEMA turned around and demanded the money back.. The people didn't have it, and many of them had to sell their homes to pay the money back.. These people didn't do anything wrong, FEMA made the mistake, and they ended up losing everything over it.. I'm not saying that there weren't any Katrina victims that didn't try to scam, but FEMA has a track record of messing up, so I blame FEMA before I blame the people.. FEMA has many problems, and I wouldn't trust them any further than I could throw them.. How do we know they aren't lying to try and cover up another mistake like they did in FL.? How do we know?

Also, the head of FEMA was passing out money before the last election to people in south east Florida that didn't have any damage at all, but they never took the time to verify any of the info.. It was before an election cycle, and they were passing out money like candy trying to make the * brothers look good..

[Ezlivin]

6. I got yer fuckin' Katrina refund right here, buddy

[Rex]

7. FEMA - champion of corporate welfare.

nt

[Sinti]

8. WTF? Has this ever happened before with other disasters?

I've never heard of anybody being asked to pay FEMA back. Is there precedent for this?

Edited to add:
I can't find anything from a previous admin where FEMA overpaid, and then demands repayment.

[Sugar Smack]

11. Amazing. You see where our priorities lie then.

I am beyond incensed. An organization that demands repayment because it wasn't organized.

[Notoverit]

12. Right up there with fraudulent lunch money for schools - fighting crime

where it matters! That's my bush!

[dansolo]

14. Did they ever ask for money back from FL residents in 2004?

There was a lot of money doled out in Florida in 2004, which later was shown to also be fraudulent. I wonder if they asked for any of that money back.

[Hugin]

15. Just when I think these people have gone as low as they can...

They tear the bottom out.

It's going to take some doing to straighten this mess out
when they're done f***** every thing up. Maybe that's the
plan?

Maybe they have no plan and maybe that's the plan.

Whoever succeeds this crowd had better have a plan.