Jeb Bush Defends FEMA effort.....

[deminflorida]

"PUTTING BACK THE PIECES
GULF BREEZE — Gov. Jeb Bush brushed aside suggestions Monday that the Federal Emergency Management Agency did not act quickly enough to provide aid to Hurricane Ivan victims in Santa Rosa County. "It’s impossible for people to expect a FEMA distribution center to be set up when the storm is going on," he said.

http://www.nwfdailynews.com/index.shtml

[deminflorida]

1. By the way, just got back online....storm was hell, worked all day

putting my neighbors house back together, by the way the guys a Republican....so who ever scratched my car in Publix parking lot a week before the storm, I suspect simply because of my Kerry sticker...

just to let you know, there will be a judgment day someday.

The storm missed my neighborhood, on both sides of me...however...lots of devastation. People have absolutely lost everything. My wife an I just went through the most traumatic shit we've ever been through and I'm pretty stressed right now.

[BadGimp]

2. good luck dealin with all that

:)

[Swamp Rat]

5. Glad you're OK.

We would have been royally screwed here in New Orleans if we had taken a direct hit. I had my sledgehammer, saw, life vest and a raft in the attic all ready to go. I was planning on lassoing the top of the big live oak in front of my house... I know about the stress...

My condolences to the folks there in Florida... :(

[The Backlash Cometh]

8. People don't like my perception of what happened to my

community. They don't believe in divine intervention, but I really do believe that is what happened. We took a mild hit -- just busy work which brought my family together. But two houses down, there's a household which has created an enormous amount of tension and distrust in this community by taking over the board of our Association and attempting to adversely possess the Association's common ground. They planted trees in the common ground for several years and have done a number of things to try to claim the land was theirs, and protected that claim by always serving on the board in some capacity or other. Then the storm came in and knocked over just about every tree in their lot, as well as ALL of the trees they had planted in the common grounds.

I am humbled. At a time when these storms have caused so many bad things to so many good people. It is heartening to see that it also found its way to right a wrong.

[aquart]

3. People are upset already???

I was sure that nothing would stop BushCo from pulling out all the stops to give Florida whatever it needs.

[izzie]

6. That was a big thing with Father Bush. He did not get in fast enough.

I do not recall what storm but a lot was said at the time.

[The Backlash Cometh]

9. The Ivan victims are just the latest, however, since this entire

thing started with Charley, it seems that Jeb Bush has been kept busy and there isn't a day that goes by when there isn't a photo opportunity of him touring the devastation.

I know the FEMA money will eventually go to people in need, but I wish there was some way to monitor it because I sincerely believe the GOP in Florida will find a way to divert it to their cronies. They always find a way. They're worse than the communist party in Russia, in that regard.

[DoYouEverWonder]

7. They talk a good game

but after 3 storms there's not enough left to go around.

Basically, other than giving ice and in some places food, the government is doing little to help folks directly.

People are on their own, to fend for themselves. Things get cleaned up mainly because of 'angels' with chainsaws, who go around helping their neighbors. It's still cheaper to go to the supermarket for ice if they have it, than to wait hours in line for a free bag from the NG. Electric is the biggest problem, and the utility companies seem to be doing the best they can under the circumstances and thank god for all those crews who come in from other states.

But as for the FEMA and the NG, the only people I saw after Frances, were 3 guys in uniform, leaving a Subway after they had their lunch.

[ocean girl]

11. Speaking of FEMA...

After Frances, I noticed the FEMA travel bus was parked at the Holiday Inn down the street from me and I assumed that they were staying at the hotel.

Funny thing is, this Holiday Inn is directly on the ocean and the rates are usually about $300 a night! Your tax dollars at work, while many people still have no water or electricity.

BTW, that was the only sign of either FEMA or the National Guard I have seen in Palm Beach County since the hurricanes.

Impeach Jeb!

[Leilani]

4. Sorry to hear of your problems

I lived in Pensacola some years back, so I know the area well.

Good luck to you all in trying to pick up the pieces.

[MsFlorida]

10. Let him defend it, but like everything else this regime says

it wont make it reality. If people are waiting for FEMA to help them, dont hold your breath.

Double and triple insurance deductibles (3 incidents you know), trees still on houses that insurance wont "cover" to take off. If you take someone in whose house was damaged during the storms, they are no longer "needy" enough for assistance. Oh yeah.....I know about FEMA






"There are only two groups of people that vote repuglican -- the very stupid and the very greedy."

[pinerow]

14. While I agree with you, I do have to hand it to the "Angel"s" in

our communities, who, without pay or other incentive, gave their time and money to help those without resources. One neighbor of mine offered his pick-up in a community wide effort to clean up what debris that was still around after Charley and shortly before Frances, which by the way is my wifes name, making her that much more dangerous.

One development that has not been discussed when the insurance company
has issued the claim check and the lien-holder withholds the proceeds and calls a loan due as it has occurred to this couple...

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040920/NEWS/409200318

I am currently in that same fight with my lien holder, I have received my claim check...and the lien holder wants to hold half the check and dole out the rest. Loan is current and have not been able to begin repairs because of their intransigent position. In all, I have found that the civil servants have acted above and beyond, the government agencies in charge of relief have earned at least a B-, but the private sectors have been like vultures circling an almost dead animal.

[Chelsea Patriot]

12. Gee, FEMA was ready here in NYC on 9/10....

From my interaction with FEMA post 9/11, I have to say FEMA is one of the most incompetent agencies run by the government.

I read about about these FEMA internment camps looming in our future, I can only say, "Have No Fear."

FEMA as it stands now is in no shape to run any internment camps.

[The Backlash Cometh]

13. But, but, Dick Cheney wanted to make FEMA our national

security agency before 9/11 happened. That's what he was working on before disaster hit. How can you complain about it now?

[pinerow]

15. I still cannot figure why Tom Ridge was touring the damaged

areas...was he looking for terrorists in the rubble and the despair.

[Corgigal]

16. When we were hit by a tornado

a few years back we had a wonderful experience with the young people from Americorp. However Bush cut their funding so I don't even know if they even exist anymore. Those young people, normally college aged kids, came to the house and helped us for FREE when so many other people were running around trying to rip us off.

I wish Americorp was up and running. NO it's not funds but help is help after a natural disaster.

[pinerow]

17. Kick

nt