Ixolib wrote:HurricaneBill wrote:It's like one guy said on the news: "FEMA has become a joke".
I don't now about that... FEMA has actually done a pretty remarkable job in spite of dealing with these un-precedented events like Katrina followed shortly by Rita. In my case - and many other cases - FEMA has been a virtual life saver. But I didn't have any pre-conceived or unreasonable expectations before-hand. PLUS - me and my family had to be pro-active and we realize(ed) up front that this was
not going to be an easy journey to successful recovery. This is perhaps the biggest challenge any of us have ever faced in any of our lives - FEMA officials included.
In my opinion, people are expecting WAY TOO MUCH in the face of an extreme disaster. Therefore, crowds get unruly. Agree that FEMA has made a few mistakes, but it is entirely unreasonable for anyone to expect perfection in this recovery effort. Stuff has, and will continue to, happen. In many cases, decisions are being made on the fly because there's no precedent to dictate otherwise. Sometimes they're good and sometimes they're not. But, the effort continues and in the end, everyone will be taken care of to the greatest ability - and extent - of the U.S. Gov't.
Keep the faith, brothers and sisters. In due time, everything will be okay!!
Well here in Houston, let's see, they advertise the $2,000 debit cards. Then after one day they shut it down, then later announce they will still distribute cards at the Convention Center only, then they say they won't, etc.
When Rita came they set-up a relief center in SW Houston and told everyone to go there (even advertising it on the interactive TXDOT Highway Signs), a line forms outside in 100+ degree heat, people start passing out and are hospitalized, so they announce they are closing the center and they need to pack-up, and go across town to another relief center. They get to the other relief center, stand in line, only to have IT close-down and are told to come back the next day.
The next day, people line-up again at location #2, only to be told that location is closed and they need to all go back to the original location #1 that had been closed the day before. Several hours later, when additional people are overcome with heat, it finally opens its doors. Only a handful were actually processed and had to come back again on days 3 and 4.
This is just one example of many that has played-out here, locally. I've read of similiar accounts in other relief cities as well.
I'm a conservative and not a proponent of Gov't aid in most cases but this is an exception. Also, this is not to diminish the important life-saving work that FEMA is accomplishing. However, I truly feel for these people and it's not at all unreasonable to expect some
very basic coordination and simple instructions. It's flat-out ridiculous what some of these people have had to go through - it's never that same message or instructions 2 days (and sometimes 2 hours) in a row.
And the above article is hardly the first time they have completely dropped the ball with their own employees either. It's a textbook example of bureaucracy gone awry, and it's the people who desparately need aid the most who are suffering the consequences.
