Hurricane season '08

[SWTXBelle]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

I bet you have professionals locally at the state level too. They don't have the experience that FEMA would, granted, but someone was probably given, as a matter of professional responsibilities, the task of developing emergency plans at the state level.

I actually have no opinion about ice particularly, but I wonder why they don't commit to providing it. I tend to think there's a reason why they leave that to the local gov. My guess is that it's complicated to transport in from other areas and they can't guarantee they can produce enough locally by generating power and bringing in ice makers to meet the needs of an unpredictable number of people and the rate that some people would need/want it.

My personally bottom line is that I just don't think that anyone expecting aid or rescue from a Federal domestic agency is ever going to be entirely pleased with the results, and we seem to have moved past a point where insuring immediate survival in the short term is the expectation of services. The best hope we have is state and local. We should recognize the limits of what FEMA can do and cut it back to what it can competently deliver and let states use whatever funding went to FEMA to develop better systems. (Actually, I think FEMA makes the most sense just delivering insurance and money for recovery after the fact.)

Have you heard anything about what FEMA intends to do for housing for the people displaced in Galveston since they resolved not to ever use trailers again? I've been wondering what the plan was.

I'll do some research into what Texas has at the state level - but I'd think that if they had anyone they would have been part of the press conferences they've been having, and I've only seen Gov. Perry and his representatives. The problem is that, as I've stated before, this type of disaster seems to happen about every 20 years. It's not reasonable, IMHO, to expect a state agency to be in place day in, day out, with the appropriate funding, etc., for something that will happen once every 20 years. The Federal government, however, can count on tornadoes, earthquakes, hurricanes and tropical storm each and every year.

I'd be more than happy to disband FEMA if the states can then have the monies. But my ancestors fought that war over 140 years ago, and they lost. I don't see it happening. I do think it is not to much to expect a federal agency to fulfil their mission. Maybe it is asking too much - but especially after Katrina I would have thought FEMA would be ready, willing and able to handle the aftermath of a hurricane. And I'd be more willing to accept the limitations FEMA might have if they didn't seem to be playing CYA at the press conferences. Give it to us straight - say you don't have enough food, or water, say you are having trouble getting gas for the deliveries, say the area is too widespread to easily get supplies out, but don't say "Not our job!" and then punt it to the locals.

As I said, local entities are having their own troubles. I know this type of mission will never go 100% smoothly. Heck, my brother has yet to go home from his police station, and they are now responsible for feeding themselves. Quite a trick when you are in a city without electricity.

Carnation, I am so sorry for the continuing trama of your uncle's passing. I pray that things go more smoothly for you and your family. I hope the wedding is a beautiful time of family togetherness for you.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

I'll do some research into what Texas has at the state level - but I'd think that if they had anyone they would have been part of the press conferences they've been having, and I've only seen Gov. Perry and his representatives. The problem is that, as I've stated before, this type of disaster seems to happen about every 20 years. It's not reasonable, IMHO, to expect a state agency to be in place day in, day out, with the appropriate funding, etc., for something that will happen once every 20 years. The Federal government, however, can count on tornadoes, earthquakes, hurricanes and tropical storm each and every year.

I'd be more than happy to disband FEMA if the states can then have the monies. But my ancestors fought that war over 140 years ago, and they lost. I don't see it happening. I do think it is not to much to expect a federal agency to fulfil their mission. Maybe it is asking too much - but especially after Katrina I would have thought FEMA would be ready, willing and able to handle the aftermath of a hurricane. And I'd be more willing to accept the limitations FEMA might have if they didn't seem to be playing CYA at the press conferences. Give it to us straight - say you don't have enough food, or water, say you are having trouble getting gas for the deliveries, say the area is too widespread to easily get supplies out, but don't say "Not our job!" and then punt it to the locals.

As I said, local entities are having their own troubles. I know this type of mission will never go 100% smoothly. Heck, my brother has yet to go home from his police station, and they are now responsible for feeding themselves. Quite a trick when you are in a city without electricity.

Yeah, I really don't know, but it seems like our expectations are higher than ever and it's going to be really hard to do a good job meeting them.

Natural disasters are obviously horrible and catastrophic, and you may be onto something about how we can't expect states to handle them when they are of this scale. Maybe the problem is at least a much the failure of the local, state and federal programs to plan and work together.

I'm sorry you (and everyone else affected) are going through this and I hope that you get the things you need from someone soon.

[SWTXBelle]

I think that it is interesting that there are taxpayers who feel it is "unreasonable" to ask a federal agency to do the very job they were formed and continue to be funded to do. If FEMA is not to deliver aid in the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster, what is it they are supposed to do with that big 'ol budget of theirs?

I ventured into Houston for the first time today. I had to laugh - you know how in college everyone asks "What's your major?". At the Houston Zoo today, everyone asked "Do you have electricity?". We are so thrilled to have something that is borderline "normal" - and to be able to fight the cabin fever and go to the Zoo (even though several exhibits are not yet up and running) was a real blessing. I saw lots of PowerPoint trucks out there, and my friend who lost his box actually got an electrician to show. Blue tarps dot the landscape, and fences are more likely to be down than up, about 40% of Houstonians have power now. Gas is a little easier to find - but lots of stations are still closed.

[AGDee]

I heard on the radio last night that a tiger had escaped from somewhere and was roaming around Galveston Island, hungry. They said they were avoiding him.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by AGDee

I heard on the radio last night that a tiger had escaped from somewhere and was roaming around Galveston Island, hungry. They said they were avoiding him.

Is this real or a legends of the Super Dome kind of story, do you think?

[AGDee]

It was on CBS news radio, not some weirdo shock jock dj...

ETA: http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline...ane-ik-24.html

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

I think that it is interesting that there are taxpayers who feel it is "unreasonable" to ask a federal agency to do the very job they were formed and continue to be funded to do. If FEMA is not to deliver aid in the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster, what is it they are supposed to do with that big 'ol budget of theirs?

I ventured into Houston for the first time today. I had to laugh - you know how in college everyone asks "What's your major?". At the Houston Zoo today, everyone asked "Do you have electricity?". We are so thrilled to have something that is borderline "normal" - and to be able to fight the cabin fever and go to the Zoo (even though several exhibits are not yet up and running) was a real blessing. I saw lots of PowerPoint trucks out there, and my friend who lost his box actually got an electrician to show. Blue tarps dot the landscape, and fences are more likely to be down than up, about 40% of Houstonians have power now. Gas is a little easier to find - but lots of stations are still closed.

I don't think FEMA was formed to supply ice and I think that's the only thing that I inquired about being "reasonable" if you were addressing this to me.

Is it reasonable for the average person to expect them to do what they say they will do? Absolutely. Do I think it can actually be done? Probably not, mainly because our expectations go up all the time.

ETA: I'm all about cutting their budget for the services that they can't seem to provide.