So what exactly is the purpose of FEMA?? Are they USELESS?

[jzodda]

This obscure agency exists only for times like this correct? Setting aside the fact that they have been victims of budget cuts for a minute it seems they are a total non-factor in this whole mess.

When a plane crashes the NTSB takes charge over everybody but in this case has Fema assumed command of anything? If they are this useless then they should just be disbanded. We are almost a week into this tragedy but I do not even know the name nor what the head of FEMA even looks like! Somethings wrong with that....

They should have been in charge of all relief, all security, all rescues, distribution and more as far back as a few days before this hit. If FEMA does not exist to take charge of these disasters then what in gods name is their purpose?

[Drum]

1. It used to work, I think n/t

[shance]

2. Apparently they are very useful to this Adminsitration.

n/t

[Wizard777]

3. The Ministry of Misinformation.

[BeTheChange]

4. They have no purpose, other then to waste money.

It's where they send enron and halliburton employees when they have to be put out to pasture.

[MnFats]

5. a place to appoint a crony who raised funds for your campaign...

...of course, it's largely an invisible job and the appointee will never have to do any real work or appear in public...

[jzodda]

7. They played a big role in the X-Files

I remember during the X Files movie the Martin Landau character revealed to agent Mulder that it was FEMA that was the government agency controlled by the Aliens and being used to set up humanity for disaster

maybe its true :(

[Usrename]

6. Executioners, mass murderers

The Bataan Death March lasted a few days

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bataan_Death_March

[MadeinOhio]

8. There is one very great purpose....

To impose martial law and then suck all the oil out of each place it touches. They're a military force with really no constraints, more than likely an enemy of the people.

[applegrove]

9. All you need to do is get rid of the FUNCTION-NOTs Bush has

put in the agencies and everything will work fine.

We just have to get rid of the neocons and everything will go back to normal. Expertise and science and appropriate responses will be the norm once again.

[Lindsay]

10. Apparently their job is to wait for governors

to ask for aid.

But since they didn't respond to Blanco's request letter, and they don't return phone calls, it's unclear just how the governors are supposed to ask. Smoke signals? Carrier pigeon? Notes scribbled on the back of $1,000 bills?

[kalavaughn]

11. FEMA

Was revamped by Clinton, was actually functional and useful under his administration, but was subsequently dismantled by Pres. chimpy. It has been in the process of being absorbed by homeland security, and the current director, nicknamed "Brownie" (by chimpy)has no experience or background in disaster management, other than the incompetent mess he made of his former job--something to do with Arabian horses.

[newyawker99]

12. Hi kalavaughn!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast: