Government Paying to Replace Katrina Homes????

[Marine Mom]

I just got off the phone with our local Red Cross. My community in Virginia received donations just shy of 10 million dollars and was sent to the victims of Katrina. That's just one community! This local chapter sent 99.4% of the funds on to the national Red Cross. The only funds they are allowed to keep out are bank fees for credit cards, etc.

Not sure how the national RC works, but they operate at under 25% for administrative fees. That's still a chunk o' change. Multiply that times a gazillion for communities all over the U.S.

Where's the money? Where's the relief for these people?

 

[MsPooh]

MsPooh,

It helps educate everyone when there's someone on the inside (you) giving the real scoop. There may be some here that you feel are overly critical--sort of like blaming the victims for not having insurance, getting out, or whatever. Please tell me more.

I am so very sorry for flying off the handle so to speak, but it just threw me back into the days right after Katrina...we tried to go to the grocery stores to get food, but they had no power ...money for us really wasn't an issue at first, the only option we had for about a week was to go into a convinience store and buy overpriced junk food, beg for ice to keep anything cold that we may have been able to salvage from the fridge because they could not truck ice in fast enough for us to purchase..luckily some of the local grocery stores were wonderful in handing out ice...one per family per day, the police were there to keep track..But it was almost like I would picture judgement day to be...very strange! Now I cannot stand to even think about PB&J, lived off of it for awhile lol.BUT the money did run out quick and I now know first hand what it feels like to be a humble person having to beg for lifes basic needs...

 

[Marthatex]

There were elderly who were displaced also, and really rather helpless to make a new life at this point.

I have neighbors who had to take in their elderly parents for months now, the mother is demented and she finally had a nervous breakdown over it all and had to be hospitalized. I don't know where they are going to end up, but they lost their house.

Right, we can't really judge until we've walked in those shoes.

 

[Marine Mom]

I am so very sorry for flying off the handle so to speak, but it just threw me back into the days right after Katrina...we tried to go to the grocery stores to get food, but they had no power ...money for us really wasn't an issue at first, the only option we had for about a week was to go into a convinience store and buy overpriced junk food, beg for ice to keep anything cold that we may have been able to salvage from the fridge because they could not truck ice in fast enough for us to purchase..luckily some of the local grocery stores were wonderful in handing out ice...one per family per day, the police were there to keep track..But it was almost like I would picture judgement day to be...very strange! Now I cannot stand to even think about PB&J, lived off of it for awhile lol.BUT the money did run out quick and I now know first hand what it feels like to be a humble person having to beg for lifes basic needs...

Glad to see you back. And thanks for your reply.

What sort of help has been offered to the people? Is the Red Cross still there? If so, what are they doing?

I will consider you Scoop MsPooh, our on-the-spot reporter. :blowkiss:

 

[MsPooh]

Glad to see you back. And thanks for your reply.

What sort of help has been offered to the people? Is the Red Cross still there? If so, what are they doing?

I will consider you Scoop MsPooh, our on-the-spot reporter. :blowkiss:

Alot of help has been offered but there are still quite a few staying in shelters and hotels, granted FEMA is picking up the tab for the hotels (which ends this month), but jobs are so minimal right now it is hard for them to get back on their feet. Another really sad thing is so many people were headed for retirement and now they are having to do whatever it takes to just get by.
Alot of the kids from the coast are in classes with my children and these poor babies will need therapy to ever understand the severity of what they have just been through.They are angry,sad and lost, and so are their parents. Luckily we did not lose our home, minimal damage to the roof that hubby was able to fix. There is a little girl from New Orleans in my son's class that told them about watching her grandpa try to walk outside to bring her puppy inside out of the rain and he was washed away in the flood while she watched..keep in mind these are 9 year old kids, it is heartbreaking.Sorry got off track, the Red Cross is still here, but all they can do now is make sure the people that are displaced get a warm meal. And like another poster pointed out there is an airfield in Arkansas where thousands of unoccupied trailers sit waiting to be moved for these people, if I had a truck capable of pulling them I would start the process myself.My husband is a veteran of the U.S. Army and I am not afraid to admit that yes I did request assistance from the Red Cross, and unlike alot of people I used it to pay bills that I could not pay because were were out of a job for nearly a month, not at Wally World buying luxuries.

 

[Jeana (DP)]

Ms. Pooh, I think your family is exactly the type of family that Americans feel good about donating money toward and wanting to help you get back what you lost. Those of us who are "complaining" so to speak are only complaining about the families who were on the government dole before the disaster and plan to remain that way for as long as humanly possible. You don't strike me as the type of person whose ever asked for a hand out in your life. I've heard too many of the displaced persons feel as though they "deserve" to have things they never even had before and wouldn't get off their butts to try and earn.

 

[Marine Mom]

.My husband is a veteran of the U.S. Army and I am not afraid to admit that yes I did request assistance from the Red Cross, and unlike alot of people I used it to pay bills that I could not pay because were were out of a job for nearly a month, not at Wally World buying luxuries.

What is the mentality of these folks?

 

[Marine Mom]

Ms. Pooh, I think your family is exactly the type of family that Americans feel good about donating money toward and wanting to help you get back what you lost. Those of us who are "complaining" so to speak are only complaining about the families who were on the government dole before the disaster and plan to remain that way for as long as humanly possible. You don't strike me as the type of person whose ever asked for a hand out in your life. I've heard too many of the displaced persons feel as though they "deserve" to have things they never even had before and wouldn't get off their butts to try and earn.

I guess this answers my question to MsPooh regarding their mentality.

 

[Jeana (DP)]

I guess this answers my question to MsPooh regarding their mentality.

Does this mean you still think I'm a big "B"?????

 

[Marine Mom]

Does this mean you still think I'm a big "B"?????

I musta missed something.

signed,
little "b"

 

[Jeana (DP)]

I musta missed something.

signed,
little "b"

I'm just teasing you! I know my post yesterday was kinda harsh!!!!

 

[Maybe So]

Everyone should have been given food. Given enough emergency help to take care of basic needs, food, clothing, utilities also help with temp housing, finding jobs, relocating and low cost health care.

But, $150,000. for a house? no way. Sorry but that's a bit extreme.

People should have had their own homeowners insurance just like anyone else.

Those who didn't have or couldn't afford insurance or who lived in government housing or apartments etc.... Well wouldn't it be more reasonable to provide grants for down payments on another home and perhaps grants to cover the first 1 or 2 years house payments or rent and then after you are back on your feet you take over your own payments again?

That would cost less per family (a lot less than $150,000.) Base it on your income and assets as to how much help you recieve. Put a cap on it like $20,000. maximum amount of aid for housing. If you wanted to buy a nicer house you kick in the rest of the down payment yourself....if you bought a lower cost home or rented instead then you would have more left over in your fund to make monthly payments with for a longer amount of time.

That is more help than the average american who loses his house can expect to get if he has no insurance.

Now I understand that indigent and elderly and handicapped may need more help than that.

I am talking about able bodies people who should be able to get on their feet within a year or so.

 

[itsreenw]

MsPooh,

It helps educate everyone when there's someone on the inside (you) giving the real scoop. There may be some here that you feel are overly critical--sort of like blaming the victims for not having insurance, getting out, or whatever. Please tell me more.

Marine Mom, I'll add my :twocents: here if I may. My fiance's daughter had just arrived in New Orleans to start her freshman year at Xavier U. when Katrina hit. Her mom flew down with her to get her settled and had been back in CA only 2 days when Katrina hit. We live in CA.

We are an average WORKING couple with bills like everyone else. We wanted to make sure our baby was comfortable and had all she needed (new laptop, $ for books, rent, etc...). We gladly spent our rainy day money on her and paid for her mom's hotel accomodations. It never dawned on us to get flood insurance because a hurricane would wipe out the entire city. She escaped with the clothes on her back and hitched a ride to TX with a family she didn't even know and she was able to locate a distant family member she'd only met once before. Thank God for that family.

It was days before we heard from her and it seemed to take forever to get on the Katrina missing person sites. FEMA's website was misleading and unclear in it's content and purpose.

We were fortunate that our child was safe and only her material possessions were lost. FEMA said she qualified for a one time 'grant' to replace her lost items, but when she completed the paperwork-it was denied.

I am amazed and saddened by the disheartening comments made by other members that think survivors of Katrina are not worthy of our tax dollars, and I am sure the victims pay taxes too. What happened to humanity??? Yes, these people have been in hotels for 6 months at the expense of the government. If the government would have taken care of the levy, the damage may have been miniimized and these fellow Americans wouldn't need to stay in hotels.

I would much rather OUR tax dollars be spent helping our own country men/women in crises than being spent chasing Saddam Hussein looking for Weapons of Mass Destruction that weren't found, or Iraq warring for the rights of another country where our military personnel is dwindling down to zero due to casualties. My 24 yr old cousin, Dominic Hinton was a casualty.

One poster commented that the victims have been in living in paid-for trailers and hotels for 6 months and added "what have they been doing?" They have probably been trying to figure out where to start life over. 6 months really isn't that long when you have NOTHING and nowhere to live and no job to return to.

In addition to losing their homes, many have lost loved ones and many people no longer have a place to work!! . These people may have had only enough to afford basic insurance for their homes. If 'flood' insurance was not a required home owner insurance and the government was not informing the community that the levy was in despair or making needed repairs, they possibly had other every day necessities to pay for.

It sounds like some of us have never had to experience a humbling situation that makes you take a step back and look at how fortunate you have been to have a job and life's necessities. Be thankful for the life you have and don't kick others when they are down, It could be you one day.

 

[Jeana (DP)]

I am amazed and saddened by the disheartening comments made by other members that think survivors of Katrina are not worthy of our tax dollars, and I am sure the victims pay taxes too. What happened to humanity??? Yes, these people have been in hotels for 6 months at the expense of the government. If the government would have taken care of the levy, the damage may have been miniimized and these fellow Americans wouldn't need to stay in hotels.

One poster commented that the victims have been in living in paid-for trailers and hotels for 6 months and added "what have they been doing?" They have probably been trying to figure out where to start life over. 6 months really isn't that long when you have NOTHING and nowhere to live and no job to return to.

It sounds like some of us have never had to experience a humbling situation that makes you take a step back and look at how fortunate you have been to have a job and life's necessities. Be thankful for the life you have and don't kick others when they are down, It could be you one day.

Since it appears I'm the "poster" you're talking about, let me respond. . .

The survivors that I was referring to were the ones who were already living in government housing and who didn't have jobs. These are the same citizens that the City of New Orleans says it doesn't want back. Our "tax dollars" have been paying for these people for years and years and they don't want it to stop now, especially since they have good excuse.

I've been in situations that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. The difference is that my family didn't sit around with its hand out waiting for the government to "fix it."

Some people need a swift kick in the rear and be forced to get their acts together and get up and DO SOMETHING. There's absolutely no excuse that they can't get jobs and help themselves.

 

[Olivia77]

I watched the Oprah show discussed above and while it was a great reminder that there is still much to be done for the victims, something stood out to me and I can understand why people question the amount of money everyone should get and how it should be distributed.

There was a woman on the Oprah show crying about how her daughter was kicked out of school for not having the right color of shirt for her uniform. She stated that she didn't have the $5 to buy it for her. The interesting thing I noticed about the woman was her hair was done and so were her acrylic nails... I get the feeling that when Jeana is talking about the people who have been sitting in hotel rooms and waiting for a handout, these are the people being reference. Sorry Jeana if I am putting words in your mouth.

Sorry for the ramble, but that just made me realize that we can't just give everyone a large chunk of change to go "build a home" because they might just go to the beauty salon w/it instead...

 

[windovervocalcords]

LAKE CHARLES (AP) - Gov. Kathleen Blanco's administration outlined a $7.5 billion rebuilding, relocation and buyout plan for Louisiana residents with hurricane-damaged homes - the first comprehensive plan the state has offered for thousands whose homes remain ruined in neighborhoods paralyzed with uncertainty.


The program would only provide repairs and replacement homes that were equivalent to the homes damaged or destroyed by the hurricanes
http://www.slidellsentry.com/articles/2006/02/22/news/news02.txt

 

[DEPUTYDAWG]

Since it appears I'm the "poster" you're talking about, let me respond. . .

The survivors that I was referring to were the ones who were already living in government housing and who didn't have jobs. These are the same citizens that the City of New Orleans says it doesn't want back. Our "tax dollars" have been paying for these people for years and years and they don't want it to stop now, especially since they have good excuse.

Some people need a swift kick in the rear and be forced to get their acts together and get up and DO SOMETHING. There's absolutely no excuse that they can't get jobs and help themselves.

You aren't the only poster that feels some of it is wrong. Didn't want you to feel all alone. I am saddened to hear the heartbreaking stories; I am mad when I hear the waste or inefficiency of supplies/trailers, etc. NOT getting to the people who need it the most.

However, there are also many stories of abuse and of those not doing all they can to better themselves during the 6-7 months. (A few of which I know personally.) So yes, it can and will be frustrating to some of us. I can see how some people feel a line must be drawn at some point. What about those who have lost everything in hurricanes in the past, that didn't have such gov't assistance? Wildfires? Other just annual winter storms and/or fires, etc. that cause people to lose their belongings? It would be tough to make those calls, as to whom should receive how much assistance. I would hate to be the one making those decisions.

I personally hope those who have attempted to do what they can, will get the assistance needed to let them go back to being productive and happy. To those who haven't, I hope they find it in themselves to do something (!) to kick-start their initiative and make a better life for themselves and their families, both now and in the future.

 

[Buzz Mills]

New Orleans' Uninsured Get Makeshift Care

NEW ORLEANS - Angela Jaster was wearing a turtleneck when she fell and broke her arm and so for days, she didn't change her shirt because she couldn't raise her arm. The swelling stretched the fabric. Even though the pain was nearly unbearable, she did not consider going to the hospital, because in this flooded city there is only one for the uninsured and it doesn't treat broken bones.

It was only when the pain sent her into a hyperventilating panic several weeks later that her family called an ambulance and had her taken to the convention center.

In the same concrete structure where thousands of fleeing families waited in vain for food and water, they now wait for medical care, dispensed by a skeletal staff of doctors working out of a collection of military tents. Inside their plastic and canvas walls, the doctors can only offer the most rudimentary care: They can X-ray bones, but not set them. They can draw blood and diagnose an ailment, but not treat it beyond prescribing pills. And with no ER and no capacity to operate, they can't do much more than stabilize trauma patients before sending them by ambulance elsewhere, often far away.

http://tinyurl.com/ff6fd

 

[MsPooh]

Ms. Pooh, I think your family is exactly the type of family that Americans feel good about donating money toward and wanting to help you get back what you lost. Those of us who are "complaining" so to speak are only complaining about the families who were on the government dole before the disaster and plan to remain that way for as long as humanly possible. You don't strike me as the type of person whose ever asked for a hand out in your life. I've heard too many of the displaced persons feel as though they "deserve" to have things they never even had before and wouldn't get off their butts to try and earn.

Hi Jeana , I understand exactly what you mean by that..I personally sat on hold with Red Cross for 4 hours until a very nice lady took my info and I told her of our losses, next day I went to pick up the money and I swear 20 women around me were talking about "this being their fair money", our State fair comes at the end of September..ACK! I walked out I just could not take it!

 

[T'sNana]

IMO, that $150,000 is not for everyone and it does not give them a mansion. Has anyone built a home lately? SHEESH...it's HIGH! Just think of all the sewer, water, electrity, etc., etc. IMO, it won't go far at all. I feel for these people because they are Americans and we should never allow them to suffer. If we have Public Aid "lifers" put their butts to work on helping rebuild but PLEASE give them meals, running water, and a roof over their head. There is much work after this disaster and the people who are able to work should be put to work and I'm sure a lot of them would be glad to have that purpose or that chance to participate in the rebuilding of their community. JMO of course.