$2000 for all victims from the government

[artist]

if you have been affected you need to register with FEMA - you will receive a debit card for $2000 to help start you back on your feet. They have asked that those that are somewhat settled to wait a couple of days before calling. You can do it online at http://www.fema.gov or call 1-800 621-FEMA

[artist]

could this be stickied?

[JenBayles]

Associated story at the Houston Chronicle website. They are going to START passing them out at the Astrodome. Don't think it's a deal where you can just call and have them send you a card.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/3343475

Homeland security officials did not immediately release details of the plans after the call with governors, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency was still sorting out which individuals would be eligible.

Not everyone will qualify for a debit card, said Ed Conley, a spokesman for the Federal Emergency Management Agency in Houston.

"For instance you may have some people who have insurance and insurance is meeting their living expenses while they have been displaced. You have some people who may be looking at an option such as a cruise ship where all of their needs are going to be met. It is going to vary by family,'' said Conley.

When it comes to distribution of the cards, Conley said, "we are scheduling an appointment with the family and then providing it to them.''

[artist]

yes - you can Mike Brown of FEMA just held a news conference and asked to get the # and word out there. He did state those that don't have access to a phone or internet that the shelters will be getting them registered for them. SAid this is the first time they have ever done this.
You are right - they just don't send them - sorry if it sounded that way - you must register with FEMA.

[artist]

thought I might add - he said there are over 100,000 trailers and mobile homes in the process of being delivered to Ms. alone.

[artist]

link to news -

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,168696,00.html

[alicia-w]

this isnt really breaking news. we were telling people this all day Sunday and Monday when they called into the Red Cross looking for help. It was $1500 then. Now it's $2000 apparently.

[artist]

alicia - I thought for those that have not registered yet it would be good to have it stickied. Never said it was breaking news - just wanted those that are thinking - where do I start - that this could be a small lift for them. Heard it for the first time a couple of hours ago.

[alicia-w]

i'm just so frustrated by all this. we've had folks calling for three days who cant get through. it takes 48 hours to process these cards. when you have nothing, 48 hours is a long time.

[artist]

exactly. That is why he asked those that were somewhat temporarily settled to please wait to call after a few days so those that have nothing can get registered first.

[GalvestonDuck]

Same here, Alicia. Word came down about the cash cards, but we didn't have them in Galveston yet. Luckily, we had gas cards and other things though.

[bfez1]

this isnt really breaking news. we were telling people this all day Sunday and Monday when they called into the Red Cross looking for help. It was $1500 then. Now it's $2000 apparently.

We needed these debit cards confirmed. We talked to the Red Cross today and Fema and neither knew what we were talking about. They even asked us where we heard this from. Lot's of conflicting reports.

[bfez1]

alicia - I thought for those that have not registered yet it would be good to have it stickied. Never said it was breaking news - just wanted those that are thinking - where do I start - that this could be a small lift for them. Heard it for the first time a couple of hours ago.

Thanks for the info--greatly appreciated!

[smashmode]

if you have been affected you need to register with FEMA - you will receive a debit card for $2000 to help start you back on your feet. They have asked that those that are somewhat settled to wait a couple of days before calling. You can do it online at http://www.fema.gov or call 1-800 621-FEMA

I heard they will only be passed out at the astrodome?

and apparently there are no restrictions on the cards..so they could be used any way deemed necessary.

[Windy]

They're starting them as a "trial" today (9/9/05) at the astrodome. Eventually, at some point FEMA will get around to doing this for others. I did hear that if you're staying in a hotel you should save your receipt, as there may be some sort of recompensaton from FEMA down the line.

[Thunder44]

I've just heard on a local radio news station here that this debit card program has been scrapped.