Regarding funding of civil works projects in Louisiana

[soonertwister]

Apparently some of the claims people are making don't quite match up with the reality on the ground. And once again the state of Louisiana seems to have a lot of explaining to do:

http://www.startribune.com/stories/125/5602732.html

And this press release from the Department of Justice in late November last year provides some additional illumination of this issue:

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/law/news/wdl20041129.html

On a related note, an opinion piece at The Wall Street Journal chimes in on the responsibilities of Mayor Nagin's and Governor Blanco's offices, and their role in the lead-up to and aftermath of Hurricane Katrina's devastation:

http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110007219

Heads will roll, and it might be literally.

[weunice]

Let me explain something that happened involving mismanagement at the state level with FEMA funds IN LOUISIANA.

My parents live in a home that flooded first in 1977, which was supposed to be the 100 year flood. Then the REAL hundred year flood hit in 1983 putting about 4 feet of water in the home. Since then the house has flooded with at least an inch of water on 5 occasions. Part of the reason was that new construction in town has exaggerated an already bad situation and this neighborhood is now extremely flood prone.

In order to prevent from paying multiple claims on flooded home FEMA essentially buys homes for "fair market value" minus demolition. This is a good deal for all involved and in the long run SAVES the taxpayers money:

For example, my parents home would go for $140k anywhere else in town but is really worth only about half that due to the regular flooding problem. They take out $40k for the demolition of the home but you STILL end up getting more than your home is worth.

Here is where it gets shady. FEMA bought a house up the hill using the numbers on my parents home. The house had NEVER flooded even in 1983. People are buying their friends homes in areas close to the flood areas and leaving large percentages of homes still IN the flood plains. Next flood, FEMA will send a nasty letter to my parents telling them they should have sold last time or that if they don't get out they will not be allowed to buy flood insurance. My parents can't help it that the system thinks their home isn't there right now. It clearly is and it WILL flood again soon.

Fortunately the local paper ran an article on this AND the federal level folks noticed the problem. An investigation is under way into how FEMA money earmarked to help victims somehow lines the pockets of corrupt workers at the state level.