Court Orders FEMA To Release Victim Information

[Kadie]

Aug 10, 2007 4:57 pm US/Pacific

Court Orders FEMA To Release Victim Information


Bridget Cannata
Reporting

(CBS13) Disaster victims who lost their homes to a fire or flood, now could have their personal information released to the public.

Floods in 1998 and fires in 2003 destroyed homes, and many people lost everything. Nearly 96,000 Californians who applied for federal aid to help get back on their feet are learning some of the private information that was given to the Federal Emergency Management Agency during that time won't be kept private much longer.

After a Florida newspaper asked for the information, a court has ordered FEMA to release the addresses of everyone who applied for federal aid between 1998 and 2004.

A representative with FEMA said it had no choice.

"We're trying to protect applicants privacy and they're saying there's an overriding public interest," said Mary Margaret Walker, FEMA.

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http://cbs13.com/topstories/local_story_222201204.html