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Heckuva Job

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FEMA to hurricane victims: No ice for you!!

(Bonus quote: “This isn’t for their gin and tonics. This is for people who are extremely sensitive to heat, and ice has a huge impact on their health and safety.”—Elise Hough, CEO of the Houston chapter of United Cerebal Palsy)

[Image via Weather Channel.]

Comments (16)

1

this might be fucked up to say but...

maybe people shouldn't live where hurricanes fuck shit up.

Posted by Bellevue Ave | September 18, 2008 3:12 PM
2

FEMA should give them all free panties so they can get $50 worth of drinks in Australia.

Posted by povertyrich | September 18, 2008 3:14 PM
3

@1: Good point. Those farmers should move.

Meanwhile, now I want a gin and tonic.

Posted by Ziggity | September 18, 2008 3:15 PM
4

BA @ 1: Usually I agree with you. However, wouldn't your statement also apply to folks who live where any disaster (earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, droughts, etc.) occur?

Posted by Just askin' | September 18, 2008 3:18 PM
5

@1: this tornado fucked CINCINNATI up.

but in regards to barrier islands, you have a point.

Posted by max solomon | September 18, 2008 3:23 PM
6

@4, theres a reasonable argument, except I really do think it depends on frequency of hurricanes and the complete dependence these gulf coast states have on the federal government.

It's not like a FEMA required earthquake, tornado, forest fire, or Cloverfield happens in any part of the nation on a yearly basis.

Posted by Bellevue Ave | September 18, 2008 3:42 PM
7

@6: unfortunately, a huge portion of the US economy depends on the functioning of this part of the world. Houston and New Orleans are important ports, especially for oil; and without the chemical plants and whatnot down there our economy would REALLY be in the toilet. Some people are going to have to live there.

Posted by Fnarf | September 18, 2008 3:47 PM
8

Then they should raise state taxes to be in line with their disaster relief needs instead of always relying, year after year, on the tax base of 40 other states to save their asses.

Posted by Bellevue Ave | September 18, 2008 3:52 PM
9

and some people are going to choose to live there no matter what but we can at least entice people to move to places that don't require billions of dollars each year in federal disaster money.

Posted by Bellevue Ave | September 18, 2008 3:55 PM
10

For most people, ice is used to keep food cold while the power is off. There are so many other pressing issues in a hurricane aftermath that FEMA should focus on. For the minority that cannot exist without ice, or oxygen, or other modern health-related devices, you shouldn't be living where there is no power. I think this is a reasonable policy.

Posted by DJSauvage | September 18, 2008 4:09 PM
11

It's in our greater long-term economic interest as a country to support these areas when disaster strikes, since we all depend on the ability to keep these sea- and river-borne goods moving, not to mention the huge amount of salt, oil and other natrual resource extraction that take place. If you can find a more effective way to get goods up or down the Mississippi and out to sea, I'd love to hear it. Bash folks down there as you see fit, but last time I checked we are still one country and we should support each other. I'm sure when the big one hits Seattle there will be plenty of folks in the rest of the nation grumbling about bailing out those latte-sippin' libruls. But guess what, they can't live without us and we can't live without them.

Posted by laterite | September 18, 2008 4:16 PM
12

@8 - I can't speak for Texas (which doesn't have an income tax), but Lousiana taxes are plenty high. But when a devastating hurricane hits (and there really is no way to know that X number of hurricanes are going to hit the state each year - until they actually form), unless income and sales taxes were doubled (at least), there is no way the state could handle the disaster on its own. Damages from Gustav alone are estimated to be over $1 billion statewide - and that doesn't count the economic impact of damaged crops and businesses and plants that had to be closed. Ike is going to increase that number significantly.

Under the current system, which I'm not saying is the best system by any stretch of the imagination, the states have to depend on FEMA during a catastrophe. Personally, I think the states would be better off if the federal government would just hand them money in the form of grants for disaster response and recovery. If the state has a lucky year, they can just carry it over to the next year (though any award for that year would be reduced by the amount that carried over).

Posted by Sheryl | September 18, 2008 4:35 PM
13

Sheryl, there would be an equilibrium at which point people move away to avoid taxes and reduced disaster related costs due to people moving away.

Posted by Bellevue Ave | September 18, 2008 4:46 PM
14

what a shitty place full if shitty people and with shitty weather. Those peopleare stupid for living there. Let them live there... We don't need them elsewhere in the country.

Posted by The south sucks | September 18, 2008 4:51 PM
15

This is a test and only a test. What you are about to hear is fiction and not intended to be taken literally. There is no need to contact the Stranger. All systems will return to normal in about two hours.

Posted by PDL | September 18, 2008 8:34 PM
16

I moved to Seattle from SE Texas after Hurricane Rita. As a native to the area, I must say that anyone who can not handle extreme heat, periods without electricity, 1-3 evacuations per year, and weather related property destruction has no business living in that area. The people that are affected by the ice situation are beyond stubborn. FEMA and the state of Texas are offering transportation out of the area and covering lodging costs. It could not be easier for these people to leave Houston, Galveston or Beaumont and receive help where it is available. Anyone staying behind should not expect federal assistance (I am speaking against a number of family and friends). I have little sympathy on this issue.

Posted by DB | September 19, 2008 1:25 AM

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