Why do people who are officials not think?
By icyorchid
@icyorchid (2564)
United States
September 10, 2008 8:32am CST
I don't know how many of you know, but Louisiana was hit by Hurricane Gustav. Now things are messed up for LOTS of people. They are not being reimbursed for the money they used to evacuate on. Most used bill money to get their families to safety. Upon returning home, they expected to be reimbursed for Gas and Hotel fees. FEMA isn't helping them at all! Fema made the statement they would help and they are renegging on this. Now people are faced with having their utilities shut off and eviction for non payment of rent.
Sad isn't it?
They are giving out disaster food stamps to help people restock their refrigerators. That is a good thing, it does help, but...............they only open 1 site for each parish and said they are only doing this for 7 days!
There were 31 parishes affected by this hurricane. That's a lot of people/families having a very difficult time right now.
How much sense does it take to realize when you do this, 1,000's of people are going to show up at that one site?! People who don't have transportation or other problems and can't get to this one site are screwed out of the help. Wouldn't it make better sence to open 2 or more sites in one parish?
Example: I live on the east bank of Jefferson Parish, the site they opened is on the west bank. I can't get to the westbank, and several other's can't get there either. So why not have 1 on the west bank and 1 on the east bank?
This is the same for the other parishes also.
Does anyone understand why officials are so hardheaded and then want to know what happened, why did this or that go wrong? Please explain it because I don't get it!
2 responses
@littleowl (7157)
•
10 Sep 08
My Dear friend if only there was an answer to this problem not knowing much about the state out there I can give you no advice on this, parish's I do know over here are tight-handed but when it comes to peoples lives you would expect more help..it is beyond me about the rent side of things surely rents would be written off with this sort of disaster as landlords etc will know that familys have no money..that I would of expected more understanding from gas eletric and water too-no one can help a natural disaster from happening and they should be more lenient with what they expect from those whom have suffered especially now because of all the hurricanes you are having out there...hugs littleowl
1 person likes this
@icyorchid (2564)
• United States
10 Sep 08
Thanks Littleowl,
I agree with you. There are so many people who say we should have been prepared, well that is fine when you are smacked with these things every year. We aren't and the hardest hit area was last hit 3 years ago with Wilma as we were last hit 3 years ago with Katrina.
We don't flee when we got a disturbance, we flee when the governmet tells us we NEED to get out. We were told this was the mother of all storms and was a killer...that made people who weren't leaving, leave.
They said something about $500 per person after Katrina, but that is for certain people and they are not really saying what you need to do to qualify for it and their website isn't much help. I filed for lost wages from my hubby and was denied on the site, that was NEVER like that before.
All I know is they don't think before they do or say and that is so wrong.
@littleowl (7157)
•
11 Sep 08
It makes me so annoyed when the government are like that when we had the floods here loads of people evacuated their homes lots of home were ruined and a lot of people didn't have any house insurance even so the government didn't help the people concerned that much and most were elderly ..so can imagine how frusting things are for you..hate asking but have Ike and Josephine been and gone yet blessings littleowl
1 person likes this
@icyorchid (2564)
• United States
11 Sep 08
Ike is going to hit Texas, so I am worried about my mom, brother and his family. I called my brother said they will be ok. He said it will only be wind and rain they will get, no hurricane weather, but I know it will be Tropical Storm effects.
Josephine, I don't know where she is. lol They have only paid attention to IKE. I guess we'll hear about her over the weekend.
@ch88ss (2271)
• United States
11 Sep 08
That is because the officials know they can do that and not have to explain to the tax payers why?
Also I believe these sorts of things are done, to show like they care and done something. but really by opening only one and not being able to go across town to the other side is not their problem but yours. So you see, they claim they offered helped but if you have little ones and no money to make it there, nor the time to drive there and probably be in line for hours t oget a few items then what is the real help right?
it is all polotical games these officials play. It is cruel and unethical for them, but it is never understand becuase they have all the money and it is families affected by the hurrican and the evacuation that they lost more time, money and even a home sometimes too. The officials get paid so well that they will never understand the grief many of these families go through.
1 person likes this
@icyorchid (2564)
• United States
11 Sep 08
In my opinion they should have a disaster run through, let the officials be the ones that are the middle class without jobs, homes, etc and let them see first hand what it is like then maybe that will change the tune they have.
I mean you are right it is our responsibility to get to the place they have for help, but it makes NO sense to have 1 site and NOT to expect caos and misunderstandings when 1000's of people show up. That is just stupid if you ask me. lol
31 parishes were in this disaster and 31 sites are open 1 site for every parish. Unreal.
I know I can get to the site in Orleans parish by bus, so I may try to do that this weekend, I hate going into New Orleans by myself, so that will only happen if hubby decides to go with me.
