12.2 Billion Relief Package(s) For Florida....

[Sean in New Orleans]

...is the total amount that President Bush has put before Congress in emergency aid for Florida and other SE states affected by Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne. Do you all think this is enough? I think it is a generous amount and hopefully will put a nice dent in the damage of these storms. The goal is to make people self-sufficient again. I hope it passes and aid comes quickly!

[Sean in New Orleans]

BTW...here is the link! Forgot to put it! http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,133731,00.html

[Terry]

Sean, I suspect that no amount is truly "enough." The long-term impact on my home state has yet to be determined. There are people without homes who have also lost their jobs. The citrus industry may really never recover without substantial aid. Aquaculture (shrimping, clamming. fishfarms, fishing, etc.) is a wreck. Repairs to schools are beyond comprehension. (andhow our students in Polk who are getting ready to miss their 11th day of school this year will endure is another mattter.)

And the tourism industry....who wants to come to FL during hurricane season? And what winter visitors might assume that FL is so devastated that we don't have the infstructure to support visitors?

The ripple effect has yet to be laid out. But the total impact is huge and will be so for years to come.

Basically, people haven't a clue how hard FL has been hit. We'll recover, but it will be a very long haul and we truly need the suppport and prayers of the rest of the country!

Terry in Lakeland, FL

[seaswing]

Terry....I agree. It wasn't just specific towns that were highlighted on television that sustained major damage (although they were the worst areas) Pensecola still has no power (most areas anyway) and inland, we received unrelenting rain and wind that hammer my home. Long term, I see several tress that lean, I have water damage, the water in my area is not safe to drink, and the list goes on. I spoke with someone in Minnesota last week that didn't even have a clue as to what had really happened down here. They thought that the hurricane only affected the towns that were highlighted by the media! the whole state has been affected and spirits are down, tempers are up and we are just plain sick of it all!

[Scorpion]

Unfortunately, the season is not over, and now with the cycle coming back, this can happen every hurricane season for the next 10 years or more.

[jdray]

Many people are still trying to recover financially, many will probably face bankruptcy due to lack of work.

Its going to be ugly for the whole SE USA for a while.

[tronbunny]

We really shouldn't forget the large number of folks that will work on reconstruction.
It's all relative.
If we think and at negatively, we will ultimately drive the economy that way.

[mascpa]

Unless you went through it, you really cannot imagine what it has been like. We need the money quickly to BEGIN the recovery effort. It won't be enough but it will help us get started. Right now, we need all the help we can get. And our sincere thanks to all who have already assisted us (boy do I love seeing those electric trucks from all over the country down here away from their families to help us out of this mess). We won't forget and when the roles are reversed and you are in need, you can bank on us being there for you.