New Orleans at the back of the Feds bus - again!

[ibjamn]

After recent tornados in Florida, Bush signed a disaster bill within hours, freeing up federal money to help the victims of that storm.
It is now 2 1/2 days after tornados in New Orleans that killed one woman and destroyed homes, trailers & businesses in 2 parishes and Bush has yet to sign a disaster bill to help us.
Someone please help me understand this!

[NeenAtlanta]

After recent tornados in Florida, Bush signed a disaster bill within hours, freeing up federal money to help the victims of that storm.
It is now 2 1/2 days after tornados in New Orleans that killed one woman and destroyed homes, trailers & businesses in 2 parishes and Bush has yet to sign a disaster bill to help us.
Someone please help me understand this!

Louisiana = Democrats, Florida=Republicans.
It's soooo low to politicize disaster relief!!!

[steffie]

The only thing to understand is that he is an idiot. Has the state government done anything to light a candle under his a**?:mad:

[Zydekitten]

His brother isn't Governor of Louisiana . . . 'nuff said.

What a pinhead - if only my grandfather had been harder on him in prep school - we all might have been spared all of this crap!!!!

:mad:

[NeenAtlanta]

His brother isn't Governor of Louisiana . . . 'nuff said.

What a pinhead - if only my grandfather had been harder on him in prep school - we all might have been spared all of this crap!!!!

:mad:

I keep thinking about that pretzel incident, and how different things would have been . . .:p

[Headless Hornman]

His brother isn't Governor of Louisiana . . . 'nuff said.

:mad:

Thankfully his brother isn't Governor of Florida anymore.

[ScoopJohnD]

After recent tornados in Florida, Bush signed a disaster bill within hours, freeing up federal money to help the victims of that storm.
It is now 2 1/2 days after tornados in New Orleans that killed one woman and destroyed homes, trailers & businesses in 2 parishes and Bush has yet to sign a disaster bill to help us.
Someone please help me understand this!

This is from a Washington State website but I assume what is written applies everywhere.

Federal help is not available until the Governor requests it and the President declares a major disaster in the state.* The President’s declaration states in which counties federal disaster assistance will be made available.* Federal disaster assistance only covers uninsured losses.



What does it take to get the President to declare a disaster so I can get FEMA assistance?



The Governor is the only person who can ask the President to make a major disaster declaration.* Her request must include reports from counties affected by the disaster that clearly shows there have been “significant damages.”* Generally speaking, the number of homes that have
been destroyed or with major damage must be in the hundreds for the disaster to be considered “significant.”*

Are there other options for assistance if we don’t meet the requirements for FEMA help or the President denies the Governor’s request?


Yes there are. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) can declare a disaster, at the request of the Governor. If that happens, SBA can provide disaster loans to homeowners, renters, and small businesses much the way they would do if the President declared a major disaster. However, to qualify for this program the Governor must be able to clearly show that 25 homes and or businesses, in any county or political subdivision, have uninsured losses exceeding 40 percent of the estimated fair replacement value or pre-disaster fair market value, whichever is lower.

[breambob]

Good points, scoop. It took almost five days for Blanco to call in the feds after Katrina. This one might take five months. Let's put the blame where it belongs, please.
Or y'all can bash Bush some more, if it makes you feel better.

[pokerchick66]

This is from a Washington State website but I assume what is written applies everywhere.

Federal help is not available until the Governor requests it and the President declares a major disaster in the state.* The President’s declaration states in which counties federal disaster assistance will be made available.* Federal disaster assistance only covers uninsured losses.



What does it take to get the President to declare a disaster so I can get FEMA assistance?



The Governor is the only person who can ask the President to make a major disaster declaration.* Her request must include reports from counties affected by the disaster that clearly shows there have been “significant damages.”* Generally speaking, the number of homes that have
been destroyed or with major damage must be in the hundreds for the disaster to be considered “significant.”*

Are there other options for assistance if we don’t meet the requirements for FEMA help or the President denies the Governor’s request?


Yes there are. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) can declare a disaster, at the request of the Governor. If that happens, SBA can provide disaster loans to homeowners, renters, and small businesses much the way they would do if the President declared a major disaster. However, to qualify for this program the Governor must be able to clearly show that 25 homes and or businesses, in any county or political subdivision, have uninsured losses exceeding 40 percent of the estimated fair replacement value or pre-disaster fair market value, whichever is lower.

Very informative post, Scoop. Basically, status quo.

You will do ANYTHING for a beer, won't you? Come on and get it. I'll have it waiting on ya. You earned it. ;)

[pokerchick66]

Good points, scoop. It took almost five days for Blanco to call in the feds after Katrina. This one might take five months. Let's put the blame where it belongs, please.
Or y'all can bash Bush some more, if it makes you feel better.

Okay, you can have one, too.

[ScoopJohnD]

Good points, scoop. It took almost five days for Blanco to call in the feds after Katrina. This one might take five months. Let's put the blame where it belongs, please.
Or y'all can bash Bush some more, if it makes you feel better.

Believe me I'm no Bush fan, but the point is between him, Blanco and Nagin it's the 3 friggin Stooges. And if it's the latter 2 pleading your case to the feds.....well......I believe inspired leadership from lower rungs on the ladder could have gotten, would have gotten. and still could get the goods delivered to their citizens even if the top dog is shall we say less than stellar.

[Corona]

Believe me I'm no Bush fan, but the point is between him, Blanco and Nagin it's the 3 friggin Stooges. And if it's the latter 2 pleading your case to the feds.....well......I believe inspired leadership from lower rungs on the ladder could have gotten, would have gotten. and still could get the goods delivered to their citizens even if the top dog is shall we say less than stellar.
hope you drank you beer before you posted that one Scoop ;)

amen brother, amen.

[ibjamn]

The govenor claims she requested federal help on Wednesday.

[jack03]

Good points, scoop. It took almost five days for Blanco to call in the feds after Katrina. This one might take five months. Let's put the blame where it belongs, please.
Or y'all can bash Bush some more, if it makes you feel better.
Louisiana (as well as mississippi) were declared federal disaster areas 2 days before Katrina hit. While everything about the response went horribly wrong and was completely mismanaged lets not act as though the disaster was not planned for.

[pokerchick66]

hope you drank you beer before you posted that one Scoop ;)

amen brother, amen.

lol, he still gets beer.

[KjnMartiniTX]

George Bush isn't Louisiana's problem. Blanco is! And Nagin is holding NOLA back.

[breambob]

The govenor claims she requested federal help on Wednesday.

Looks like that is correct. The state is still doing "assessments" of the damage. The politics around this kind of thing stinks.

http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/wwl021507jbfederal.30a9910.html

[ScoopJohnD]

The governor requested that the affected areas be declared a federal disaster area at 4:21 PM today via fax. You may see the letter here
http://www.gov.state.la.us/

The file is under the headline "Governor Blanco seeks federal disaster declaration" on the page