FEMA says ice was no longer needed on Gulf Coast

[MadrasT]

Thousands of pallets of ice, originally dispatched for areas ravaged by Hurricane Ike, melted in the sun today on a runway at Randolph Auxiliary Air Field here, with more trucks lining up to unload more ice.

But it's not indicative of poor planning by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, a spokesman said. In fact, it's just the opposite, evidence that FEMA was well prepared for Ike.

"That ice is surplus ice from the original requests from state, county and local authorities before the scope of the hurricane was known," said FEMA spokesman Richard Scorza. "We try to anticipate the needs for various commodities. The good news is it addressed the immediate needs of the population and there are no shortages."

-snip-

He said the agency decided to unload the ice and let it melt because it would be more expensive to keep it frozen indefinitely to fill some unknown future need. Scorza did not know how many trucks or how much ice was headed for Seguin, but said if any areas on the coast needed more ice, FEMA could supply it immediately.

"Our indications are that the ice they have on hand is sufficient for their needs," he said of coastal cities. "Better to have too much than not enough. This is a product of prudent planning. You don't want to be in a position where you underestimated your need."

Source: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6020502.html

If you want to really :banghead:, read the comments at the linked article. My favorite:

"Man If I see a person wearing a FEMA shirt, I wil slap them WITH an ICE bag. We could still use the dang ice here in Houston."

[aquart]

1. They let the ice melt. They're unteachable.

Do they mean the rich people got their power back?

[uppityperson]

2. k&r for FEMA incompetance. Do they have any matching of fantasy & reality?

Comments from people there are something. It reminds me of mrbush saying "all is fine in NO, all is under control" then the tv showing people at the Convention Center begging for food & water.

Words are cheap. Every time they do something like this, and the truth gets out, they lose more credibility.

[MichaelHarris]

3. Thousands of people

getting to see what's left of their homes today in Galveston and they didn't need ice? Someone smell a rotten trout?

[southern_belle]

4. Fema announced they would no longer supply ice

This was announced after Ike had already hit. I heard it on the news. A**holes were supplying ice at first, then I suppose they decided it was too much of a problem. :mad:

[MadrasT]

5. Didn't they say something like

it wasn't their responsibility to supply ice? It wasn't necessary?

[tanyev]

6. If it's Chertoff, make sure that bag is full of ice before you slap him with it.

[MadrasT]

7. Shameless self kick

because this pisses me the hell off...

:kick:

[uppityperson]

9. You mean the fact they got ice to some of the people and now say it is all fine?

The fact that they are wasting money on incompetence? All that? Me too.

[EFerrari]

8. I hate these people. n/t