[Even FEMA, which is ostensibly coordinating the reconstruction effort, is hedging on who will pay for the effort and who will make the critical decisions.] Since an effort like this has not been undertaken in the modern history of this country, I think we are about to learn how it will truly move forward, ... Historically, local decision makers have been the lead, and the federal government picks up the tab where the law allows. |
According to Mike Brown, ... very inaccurate. |
As far as people can get away from the storm there will be places for them to go. |
Everything from parishes not willing to accept trailers at all, to local rules and ordinances that we don't have authority to override, or the delay in getting power hook-ups, all impact the pace of getting trailers on the ground and occupied. The supply of trailers is not the issue; we have plenty of trailers. |
FEMA has a substantial challenge in balancing the need to get the money out quickly to those who are actually in need and sustaining public confidence in disaster programs by taking all possible steps to minimize fraud and abuse. |
FEMA mobile homes staged in Arkansas are habitable, available and properly maintained. They have not been damaged, and certainly none are being destroyed. Mobile homes are an important part of a comprehensive housing strategy, and are commonly used for temporary housing outside of floodplains. |
from 30 years' experience that these hurricanes are still largely unpredictable and can turn at a moment's notice. |
I think anyone whose life has been turned upside down by a disaster has been traumatized. We want to help as many people as we can and that's what we're trying to do. |
I think one of the biggest misconceptions is that we're designed to make people whole when our job is to get them back on their feet. |
If sites for those mobile homes are not approved in Louisiana, it is possible they will never be used for hurricane relief. |
It is presumed these homes are uninhabitable, and these persons will be eligible for the maximum amount they can receive. |
It was the right thing to do. |
It was the right thing to do. We helped thousands of families who were forced from their homes without basic necessities. To slow down that process in order to find out who is trying to cheat the system would have hurt those who the system is designed to help. |
It would be a false sense of security to rely on FEMA to rebuild a life the way it was before a disaster. |
It's a very dangerous situation at this point, ... We're ready and awaiting landfall. |