Displaced and distressed - Today's News from the Panhandle

[deminflorida]

"Few shelters open; hundreds homeless".

"Once the power comes on and the air conditioning kicks back in, it's easy to forget.

But there are still more than 300 people -- including children -- displaced by Hurricane Ivan who are staying in shelters in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. While much of the Pensacola Bay Area moves closer to the proverbial "normal,'' some are stranded at the three remaining shelters -- with little money, few options and growing despair."

http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/news/html/F8849390-E3F3-44A3-BF83-E108B9DC9389.shtml

[Spangle]

1. Many didn't evacuate for Jeanne

Because of finances. It COST a ton to evacuate and the insurance doesn't remiburse for evacuation. Some still havn't received any help from CHARLEY which was over 6 weeks ago.

Alot of people in Florida are hurting these days.

[Dudley_DUright]

10. Yes it does

We paid $600 for hotel alone during Frances and we lost a huge amount of food in our fridge and freezer. Fortunately my wife is back at work and we can afford it, but many cannot.

[DenverDem]

2. But the chimp in chief is down there handing out ice!?!?

Taking political advantage of The People's pain.

It's a busholini inc. tradition. "I hear you. . . "

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

3. This is what happens when you vote for smaller government

and rely on charity to get the job done. Most services are stretched. Anyone notice we don't see much news about the Red Cross? Could it be they are also stretched thin tending to wounded and dead GI's and wounded, dead and maimed civilians elsewhere?

[Jacobin]

4. Red Cross is stretched thin paying gargantuan salaries to

its local fundraisers.

Some ditz in San Diego makes $300,000 per year as head of the local Red Cross "charity".

They are obscene freaks taking advantage of disaster.

[schultzee]

9. Yes! Well said. I wish we could run ads about this so the dumb would

realize what reducing government leads to.

[readmylips]

5. Insurance deductable sky high....

My ex-brother in-law had a tree fall part on his kitchen and part on a neighbor's porch. To remove the tree, it cost him $900. cash. To fix his house, he needs to come up with $2,400 as his insurance deductable. He's disabled and lives on social security. There's no way he can come up with the money. He was evacuated three times, and that ate up his cash.

[AndyTiedye]

8. Some Waiting Until Season Over to File Claims

because of the high PER INCIDENT deductable.
Many houses in Florida have been damaged multiple times this season.

[funkybutt]

6. lots of cities joining in to pitch in

the people of new orleans are sending truck loads of supplies to those in Florida. I found out a whole palette of water only costs $90. There is a bit of a water shortage down here in Louisiana b/c of all the hurrcaines but New Orleans should be sending at least 5 truck loads of supplies there by next week.

I think aid from other states and cities should help a lot. I feel really bad for the Floridians b/c here in Louisiana we got so lucky with Ivan making that last minute turn away from us.

[LizW]

7. My brother is working in the Alabama gulf coast area

He's a state trooper and is patroling the area for looters and other folks who aren't supposed to be there. He has been eating at a food center run by a bunch of folks from Louisiana. No government help involved, just people who came over to help feed people for free.

[SoCalDem]

11. As altruistic as that is, it's still wrong

States DO have some responsibility to their citizens.. States are right there when it's time to COLLECT money, but when calamities happen, they are too ready to ask the "private sector" to do the heavy lifting..

That's the republican system.. Privatized assets...publicly funded liability

An ODD thing I saw on TV.. A lady was thanking FEMA for the wonderful work they did, and how they helped her get a place to live while her house is being repaired.. What did they get her??? A TRAILER.. I know that's probably all any of the displaced people will get, but what irony.. Manufactured homes and trailers are the MOST likely to be damaged, and that's the exact thing they are given as shelter..:shrug:

[beyurslf]

12. What else would they get? A permanantly built home while their other one

is rebuilt?

[SoCalDem]

13. I didn't say it was wrong....just ironic..

:hi:

Kind of like getting food poisoning, having your stomach pumped, and then going back to the same restaurant:)

[camero]

14. A temporary apartment or HUD money for housing.

That's what else. If Jebbie hadn't cut the budget they would have that.

[FlaGranny]

15. There really ARE no temporary apartments

available. I've heard some people calling in to a radio station whose landlords are trying to evict them, falsely claiming their apartments have been condemned. I'm guessing the reasons behind this include finding living space for friends and relatives. The only empty housing units in this state right now will soon be filled by their northern owners coming back for the season. HUD money for housing would be fine - but the money cannot buy housing that does not exist. Quite a few people still in shelters all over the state because of this problem.

[camero]

17. Victims of Jeb

He's decimated Florida, the hurricanes have finished the decimation off. My regards to the victims, they've suffered alot and deserve better than they've gotten.

I got a phone call from my mom yesterday. She's ok but the neighbors across the street still have no power from Jeanne so she has run an extension cord from her house to theirs to power their refrigerator and icebox.

She lives in a block house thankfully.

[catzies]

16. The same people who are thanking FEMA still voted for * and think

their taxes are too high, and that the gubmint don't do nuthin' for folks like them. :eyes: