FEMA denies aid for tornado damage (Nappanee, Indiana)

[dapper]

Spending money on war is okay but don't you think of spending money on Children's health care, aid for tornado victims or any other social program. We don't have the money to take care of our own here in the US but we can spend money we don't have for unneccesary wars that only seem to make money for the rich mofo's.

Our Government needs to get their priorities straight...



http://www.southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071122/News01/711220349/1130/Sports01

FEMA denies aid for tornado damage
Nappanee officials may appeal decision.

ADAM JACKSON
Tribune Staff Writer

This Thanksgiving, the residents of Nappanee have plenty to be thankful for.

For starters, everyone survived the tornado that ravaged the city Oct. 18. And since the storm, area residents have responded to the disaster with compassion and generosity.

But the news the city received from the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Wednesday will likely receive a less than thankful reception from Nappanee residents, as word gets out that the federal organization has denied emergency relief funding to the areas damaged by the storm.


"We just heard about half an hour ago," Nappanee Clerk-Treasurer Kim Ingle said. "I'm just sitting here shaking my head."

The word came Wednesday afternoon, after FEMA Director Dave Paulson notified Indiana Department of Homeland Security Executive Director J. Eric Dietz that the damage to the region -- a large swath that included Marshall, Elkhart and Kosciusko counties -- did not meet criteria for relief funding under the terms of the of the Stanford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.

In a statement released Wednesday, Dietz expressed his disappointment in the announcement.

"We know the affected Hoosiers have experienced great suffering," Dietz said.

"We are committed to seeking additional measures to provide needed support," Dietz said.

What was not known Wednesday is exactly how much destruction is required for federal aid. Initial insurance company estimates printed in an Oct. 20 article in The Tribune forecast that damages from the storm could top $10 million, especially in the hard-hit Nappanee area.

The Indiana Department of Homeland Security statement tallied the destruction at 51 homes destroyed, another 137 with major damage, and 201 with minor damage. Some 107 businesses were damaged and destroyed in the storm, along with countless vehicles and other property.

But while the news from FEMA was disappointing, it did not eliminate the resolve of Nappanee officials to continue fighting for aid. Ingle said the procedure allowed for an appeal of the decision, a move she said would assuredly be taken.

"We are going to re-evaluate the damages, and we are going to try again," she said. "This isn't done just yet."

Staff writer Adam Jackson:

[LiberalFighter]

1. They must had done something wrong if they were denied aid from Bush

Elkhart voted over 70% for Bush in 2004
The portion that also includes Nappannee voted over 78% for Republican Representative Mark Souder.

Of course the population of Nappannee is under 7,000 so it doesn't matter to them.

[KatzManDu]

2. I'm still shocked by this...

I'm wondering if it goes back to sCHIP....

It's no secret that Daniels and Bush are buddies. But why wouldn't Bush help bail out a relatively small favor for his old friend?

I can only think it has to do with Daniels backing sCHIP (thanks to our state's expansive health-care lobby) and Bush and his latest buddies being against it.