Re: Dade county gets $21+million from FEMA.. why?
FEMA is another government hand-out program, the working of which, outstreched hands have mastered.<br />Many Miamians were there for Hurricane Andrew, and learned how to get free generators from FEMA, from those who lost power back then. I would not be at all suprised if that guy with all the question marks on his suit (something Lesko), had an entire chapter in his "ripoff the government" book on how to use this entitlement program.<br />After Charley, we lost power. I had ordered a generator when the thing first turned into a cat1 storm,-- because my 30 year old trusty rusty 2K briggs Brush generator threw a rod -- but did not recieve it until a day after the storm. Thank God. Anyhow, I called FEMA the day I learned (from a radio news program) that they would re-emburse for generators and chain saws needed in the aftermath of a hurricane. I was expecting a low-interest loan to offest the cost, or a partial rebate. About a week later, the rerpresentative from FEMA knocked on my door. He had one of those first-genration government PDA's and a briefcase.<br />He wanted to see every room in the house (?didn't ask why, just assumed he was looking for damage.) <br />He asked for the reciept for the generator.<br />He then axed a jillion questions about power outage duration, gallons of fuel used in the generator, number of square feet in the home, cars I owened, other properties yadayada.....<br />Then, he procedes to tell me, they also pay for fuel used. And not just part of the cost, ALL of the cost!!!! Up to a set dollar amount, the WHOLE BILL!<br />I was also mailed a low-interest home-repair loan app a week later, allong with the check.<br />Yes, I'm complaining at the same time I am benifitting, but this program needs some giant holes plugged in it. <br />But it's not easy to trick the system, and the consequences of such an attempt is a ferderal felony offense (from what the documentation states).<br />You can't just call and say "I want a generator for an approaching storm". You have to be able to document 'present need' (power outage,easily confirmed by power provider, ect)...<br />But it's still not foolproof, and many fools proove it.<br />Miami's area was mostly system abuse,as you wewre quick to point out. And they know how to werk the program just as some folks learned how to play the Wellfare office.<br />Around this area, abuse is a much lower percentage, because the storms turned us into a desaster area,and not many of the residents knew how to play the "FEMA ripoff game". <br />But I suspect they do now.
<br /><br />Re-embursement for Generators.. Why does FEMA pay for generators and fuel??? I'm sorry, but electric, in most cases, is NOT a necessity....(i know, 13 days without electric after F.)<br /><br />I don't mean to be questioning you, insulting, or insinuating anything, 12Footer 
