FEMA in Columbia

[bigfootme]

FEMA has set up a large office in the old Furniture World building here just outside of Columbia and the place is packed with cars, guards and employees that have been flown in from all over the place. They say it is their field office for the "emergency", and they have another building downtown as well that they are using for this "emergency".

We got a lot of destructive hail on March 11th and 12th here but no tornadic action that I am aware of. One set down way south of here and I think there was one in Sedalia too. I am wondering why we need a huge FEMA operation here in Columbia. Anyone have any idea?

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. It's tornado season

And if one hits, let's hope FEMA is not involved in giving aid.

[xmas74]

2. The one in Sedalia caused a death.

I don't know, unless they want to centralize a place in Columbia and add places in St Louis and KC for immediate aid.

That day numerous counties were declared disaster zones. Maybe Columbia being centralized has something to do w/ them setting up shop there.

[bigfootme]

3. It could be because of Columbia's location

This just in out of our local paper. I know I have been working too much here lately but how could I have missed "hundreds" being homeless in Caruthersville? They are sending in over 300 mobile homes to the area. I still think Columbia is a bit far off for an emergency in the bootheel.
-----------------------------
CARUTHERSVILLE, Mo. (AP) - The Federal Emergency Management Agency has begun distributing mobile homes to give shelter to the hundreds of residents of this Missouri Bootheel community left homeless by a tornado earlier this month.

Fourteen mobile homes now dot Caruthersville neighborhoods torn apart by the April 2 twister.

Another 300 will soon be available.

Gov. Matt Blunt on Monday toured the area for the second time since the storm and saw progress.
http://www.newstribune.com/articles/2006/04/25/news_state/250news06.txt

[xmas74]

4. I would think so too.

There was quite a bit of damage in Pettis,Saline and Howard. I could see putting it in Columbia since Pettis and Saline would be less than an hour from there.