What do you think about this?

valerie · Post by **valerie** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 11:24 am

FEMA is handing out $2,000 debit cards to victims of Katrina.

cnn story

Here's a link... scroll down to the "Other Developments" section...

minks · Post by **minks** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 11:25 am

valerie wrote: FEMA is handing out $2,000 debit cards to victims of Katrina.

cnn story

Here's a link... scroll down to the "Other Developments" section...

I saw that last nite, kind of mixed feelings, it is good, but what they said last nite it was only $1500 can't start life over with that.

abbey · Post by **abbey** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 11:27 am

It's a start i suppose.

These people must be feeling extremely isolated and desolate at the moment,

it will go a little way to giving them some self respect.

minks · Post by **minks** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 11:28 am

minks wrote: I saw that last nite, kind of mixed feelings, it is good, but what they said last nite it was only $1500 can't start life over with that.

Also I can see people getting mugged for their debit cards out of desperation as well our source in La, stated today over the phone, that they are seeing all kinds of desperate family members buying things like chips and pop as food so I dunno seems some of the lessor educated are not aware of nutrition and I am not sure that money will be overly helpful.

Raven · Post by **Raven** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 11:28 am

You know.......my hubby said something interesting the other night. About people being so dependent on others to supply their needs, they lose the survival instinct.

minks · Post by **minks** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 11:32 am

Raven wrote: You know.......my hubby said something interesting the other night. About people being so dependent on others to supply their needs, they lose the survival instinct.

It is all so darn sad. These people have been reduced to a lifestyle just barely above a stray dog. How can we even begin to fathom helping them

minks · Post by **minks** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 11:34 am

Geeze here is another tidbit from our co-wiorker down there.... a company out of New Orleans called our guys real estate agent and was begging him to find 400 houses in Broussard for their employees. OMG Broussard has already received over 60,000 refugees. It is pure Hell.

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 11:58 am

Raven wrote: You know.......my hubby said something interesting the other night. About people being so dependent on others to supply their needs, they lose the survival instinct.

I've been saying this all along....only a few put their heads above the parapet and went looking to help others...like the lady who found a crate of oranges to share. i guess it's easy for us who have never faced more than a small leak in the plumbing to state an opinion. I feel uncomfortable doing so.

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 1:48 pm

As long as this is only a temporary help to keep them going, those people need more than that amount of money to start over again.

cars · Post by **cars** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 2:56 pm

$2000 is a meager start, but it won't even get them most of their bear essentials.

Unfortunately, I'm willing to bet that most of them don't have "FLOOD" insurance, so they won't be getting any help from them. It's a terrible situation all around.

May God have mercy on them, & help them all throught this desperate time!

abbey · Post by **abbey** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 3:11 pm

Call me naive but surely the donations that are being collected worldwide

will be split equally between all the people??

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 3:19 pm

Is this a donation, or have they got to pay it back ?

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 6:17 pm

Were getting 3000 of them this week, theyll be staying at a Ntl Guard base north of here its completely isolated out in the middle of somewhere, thats going to really depress them Id think theyd feel like prisoners, not to mention La. to Mn. culture and weather shock.

Clint · Post by **Clint** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 6:23 pm

I think itÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s the right thing to do in these circumstances. $2,000.00 is a drop in the bucket compared to what they have lost. I wonder how it will be spent but that isnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t the point. If they donÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t make good use of it, they will have to live with the results. We just have to do what is right and hope they will too.

I donÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t understand the flood insurance thing. N.O. (below sea level) must have been in the flood plain where flood insurance is required.

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 6:38 pm

I dont see how you could get a mortgage there without flood insurance ? seems it would be mandatory

certainly down the road there will be low or no interest federal housing loans.

I know in N Orleans theyre already wondering how theyll get people back in there when its time, apparently theyve been losing population for decades now, crime was bad, high unemployment low wages etc