Did anyone else see Chertoff's comments?

[CoffeeCat]

Did any other Iowans see Michael Chertoff's comments about, "...the federal government is on top of its game in responding to the massive flooding in the Midwest."?

Chertoff also said, "...the movement of federal assistance, from water to food to coordination with local officials, was much quicker than after Katrina."

Maybe FEMA is on the ground and providing food, supplies and water to Iowans. I might have missed something. However,
I'm in Des Moines--and I'm keeping in touch with friends and others in Iowa City and Cedar Rapids. I haven't seen
one article about FEMA being on the ground or supplies coming from FEMA.

Has anyone else?

Pardon me, but I'm a little leery. After reading recently that BushCo had heavy equipment "staged" in New
Orleans--for President Bush's visit, and then it was moved out after Bush flew away--I'm wondering about
Chertoff's comments.

The good people of Iowa have clearly pulled together and helped one another. Six hundred volunteers showed
up at Mercy Hospital to sandbag after they issued a call for help via the media. People are really pitching
in--working hard and helping one another.

Chertoff seems to be taking a great deal of credit and insisting that FEMA "is on top of it's game" when it comes
to responding to these Iowa floods.

They could be. The only mention of FEMA in any top Iowa news stories, is about Braley asking FEMA for housing
assistance for displaced flood victims, in the CR area.

Have I missed something?



http://www.kcci.com/news/16604468/detail.html

[Blue Gardener]

1. If you've missed it

Then I've missed it as well. Iowa City/Coralville area has not had any FEMA help that I've heard of. Not like they've haven't known the flood is coming. It's on the news 24/7.

[petersjo02]

2. No sign of FEMA in CR and IC yet

Some FEMA honcho had a news conference this morning, and a local TV station broadcast a number people could call for help from FEMA, but callers reported that they were being told that the county they were calling from wasn't listed on FEMA's official list of disaster areas. Sounds like business as usual at FEMA. Maybe they'll send up some travel trailers now that they've kicked New Orleans people out of them. Something like 4.900 homes in CR under water, plus the whole downtown. Response in eastern Iowa--as well as Des Moines, I'm sure--is all local volunteers, plus Red Cross, Salvation Army, and about 2,100 national guard pitching in. IIRC, some nat. guards from other states were coming, also. It will be nice to get a functioning FEMA again after January 20, 2009.

[Counciltucky]

3. But he said it, so it must be true.

Because the Bush Administration has never lied to or otherwise deceived us...

[Debi]

4. Iowans will save Iowa - FEMA will watch

Hopefully taking notes....

[Shoelace]

5. Huffpost article says FEMA is in Cedar Rapids "looking after evacuees"!

I've been searching news for a couple of hours to see if FEMA is actually being reported as "being there" - so I find this blurb on Huffingtonpost:

Some of the federal government's disaster relief efforts in the Midwest states, as provided by FEMA:
Friday, June 13, 2008
___

IOWA

After record flooding, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and others are looking after more than 4,000 evacuees in the Cedar Rapids area. Several hundred residents are staying in 10 shelters of the American Red Cross. FEMA will deliver a tota 738,000 liters of water, with meals also planned.
(other states are mentioned too)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20080613/fema-states/

In another more or less canned article is this blurb:

IOWA
FEMA has deployed 191 personnel who are working closely with partners at the federal/state JFO and in the Iowa State Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Five Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers and three Logistics Response Vehicles have been dispatched to the state. A Mobile 911 system is on its way to Cedar Rapids from Baton Route, La.
At the state's request, FEMA provided more than 20 truckloads of water to Mason City in Cerro Gordo County and also has provided water to the City of Nashua. Seven additional trucks of water left the National Logistics Staging Area this morning to help meet the state's request for water. (One truckload (18,000 liters) serves 5,000 people for one day.) FEMA already has provided a generator pack that includes 50 generators for the state to provide to local governments for critical infrastructure needs.
http://7thspace.com/headlines/284509/fema_deploys_rapid_needs_assessment_team_to_kansas_response_to_ongoing_emergencies_continues_in_other_parts_of_the_midwest.html

On this blog, the guy pretty much nails it:

As Cedar Rapids (and our nation’s corn supply) drowns under 32 feet of water (20 feet above flood stage), you might be asking yourself: Where is FEMA?

Not to worry:

People living in the affected areas can apply for grants and long-term low-interest loans. Those grants and loans can cover everything from the cost to replace a house to the price of buying new clothes.

All storm victims need to do is contact FEMA and the agency will help them complete the paperwork.

“What we are trying to do is make this period of time as easy for them as it can be and we will be here for them however long it takes to be able to do that,” said William Vogel, FEMA.

So far more than 550 people in the affected areas have applied for help.

Everyone has until July 28th to complete the required paperwork.

Isn’t that awesome? Paperwork! That’s all those “good folks” need. You’re doing a heckuva job, Vogie.

See, I never really bought the claim that New Orleans was left to drown because the Bush Administration are a bunch of racists. No, they’re not racist: they hate everybody equally. They’re sociopaths, not racists.

http://timhallbooks.com/wordpress/?p=121

Sorry for the length of this post but I must say, all I've heard is that everybody is running out of water and there's no water in stores so FEMA better get off their dead asses and get those trucks where they are needed.

Oh and keep those receipts, you'll need them to get any $$ from FEMA!

[Debi]

6. I saw two guys wearing FEMA hats in the unflooded area in downtown Waterloo

on Friday.

FEMA did respond to my inquiry immediately after the tornado. I've been denied any assistance because a) I have insurance (insurance will not cover all my damage) and b) My damages weren't extensive enough. :crazy: - But at least they showed up.

[Shoelace]

9. you'll appreciate this article from Daily Kos then

oh ouch, it's heartbreaking to me because all we needed in the '70s flood we were in was a simple inspection of all the damage, no receipts, no asking about insurance (there was no such thing then). It was such a simple thing and we did get a 5K check from them within a week or 2.

Here's a snip from the article but read the whole thing:
How is the Federal Government responding, not so good I hear:
(in my own words)

Iowa Citizen to FEMA Administrator: Sir I need emergency housing my home if flooded.

FEMA: Well, does your home owners policy cover emergency housing because if it does you should, you know, go through them?

Iowa Citizen: Sir, I am not sure, my policy is in my home underwater.

FEMA: Why don’t you ask your insurance agency if your policy covers it?

Iowa Citizen: Sir, my insurance agency is underwater.

FEMA: Why don’t you contact the State Insurance Board to see if your insurance should cover it?

The above speaks for itself, I think......

U.S. Rep Braley (Iowa), sent out this press release, which is a good indication as to how the Federal government isn’t doing its job.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/6/13/123941/589/562/535391

What's really an eye opener is to read Rep. Braley's letter to FEMA at the link.

[Blue Gardener]

7. July 28th!!!

The water just started going down in CR yesterday, but won't be below flood stage for quite some time yet. It haasn't even crested yet in Iowa City/Coralville. People won't even be able to get into their houses until who knows when, and they want the paperwork done in a month and a half?:mad:

[Shoelace]

8. and you'd better have proper ID too!

to get anything from FEMA. So in case you had to evac quickly and forgot whatever they consider to be "proper ID" you are SOL. That's their new policy after Katrina where they said so many people ripped them off, etc., etc.
I hope everybody keeps some sort of track of FEMA's response so we can document their works or lack of them.

I'm in Oregon and am trying mightily to keep track via the internet of what level of response FEMA is giving to flood victims there in Iowa.

CR is going to run out of water by Tuesday so do hope those trucks get there with water for evacuees. Other towns are in worse shape and now levees are weakened, and/or breaking. One just broke in Des Moines this am, flooding another 200 homes. :banghead: :mad: