Thought I'd Seen It All

With all the things that have come out about the government and its handling of Hurricane Katrina, I thought I had reached the limits for being appalled. I guess I don't know George W. Bush as well as I thought.

The Washington Post reported yesterday that in the weeks after Hurricane Katrina hit, foreign countries offered $854 million in assistance. Of that, the White House accepted and spent about $40 million. Most of the rest was uncollected. Some countries, frustrated at the President's lack of response, withdrew their offers and redirected the money to private charities such as the Red Cross.

I vividly remember the whining that came out of Washington about how much the hurricane recovery was going to cost. It is unconscionable that government officials would complain about recovery costs and then leave $800 million in free money on the table. $800 million is more than has been spent on levee reconstruction costs so far. It is more than has been paid out to citizens in New Orleans for home reconstruction under the Road Home program.

If the federal government is going to ignore that kind of money someone needs to give a damn good reason why. It is outrageous that 100,000 people on the Gulf Coast still live in temporary trailers almost 2 years after Katrina, and the White House thinks it is too good to scoop up $800 million lying around in the street.

It is simply astonishing. I don't know what else to say.

Comments

[Patty Mae]

I heartily agree with the doctor. How can the US refuse aid for all these people who are still trying to find homes?
I just saw a Ms. Sloan interviewed on PBS by Tavis Smily and she was talking about how she and her organization had to sue for the documents under the freedom of information act to get them because they were so slow in sending them. It was an interesting interview. I did not know the US had refused aid. Incredible!!!

[Dr Scott]

Thanks for posting this, Dr. Hebert! You must have some hidden reserve of resilience that I don't, because I am no longer surprised by anything regarding the missteps in Katrina.
Incidentally, you should look at a post yesterday on Kevin MD regarding doctors at West Jefferson Medical Center suing the state of Louisiana for uncompensated care after Katrina (you may have already heard about this, but it was news to me).
If there was a possibility to screw it up, our government officials have done it, and with finesse.

[louisiana questions]

It shouldn't surprise anyone considering the many federal investigations present prior to Katrina in Louisiana. The 22 Million dollars missing from the Orleans Parish school district and former Gov. Edwards jail time are only two examples of lack of ethical behavior in the State of Louisiana. Writing this and reading this requires tenacity! After looking into the denial of assistance to Katrina victims further, from the Katrina Aid Today website, the paperwork alone combined with the allocation of funds for those working at Katrina Aid Today, simply shocks. Only a portion of FEMA funding was offered to Katrina Aid Today. There is no remedy for those Katrina Victims evicted during the disaster - not just evacuated - but actually EVICTED by unscrupulous landlords who can apply for Road Home funding. Those who were EVICTED have no remedy other than to file a lawsuit against the landlord. Executive Orders suspended civil procedures, where local police ignored them, and turned a blind eye in favor of landlords. Face the facts, in the parish where I resided, over 3/4 of the students enrolled at the school district, received and qualified for free breakfast and lunch. Here's the worst. The landlord was on the town council, son a policeman, other son a fire chief and 3 families from his/her - town council person's rentals were EVICTED. These rental units did NOT receive extensive damage to require FEMA CONDEMNATION, although contracted FEMA volunteers working with the fire department, stated that the landlords reasoning for evictions likely stemmed from FEMA CONDEMNATION of the property. All lies and damned lies from the TOP down - local, parish, and state authorities. Why would you expect the Federal Government to Cooperate with these unscrupulous, money hungry, theives? ---thanks Dr. Hebert for venting my Louisiana Questions!