WP: FEMA Speeds Katrina Relief

FEMA Speeds Katrina Relief
Owners in Areas With Worst Damage To Receive $26,200

By Spencer S. Hsu
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, November 5, 2005; Page A01

Faced with the daunting task of inspecting hundreds of thousands of damaged homes, federal officials have decided to award the maximum relief aid possible to people in neighborhoods presumed destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has begun notifying 60,000 renters and property owners in nine Louisiana and Mississippi parishes and counties that they will immediately receive as much as $26,200, the most Congress has authorized for individual households battered by Katrina. The determination of who gets the money is being based on satellite imagery of the worst flooding or wind damage, broken down by Zip code, where individual inspections have not been done.

Although it may be possible that some homes in those areas escaped serious damage and their owners do not require the aid, FEMA has decided not to wait for case-by-case inspections.

"It is presumed these homes are uninhabitable, and these persons will be eligible for the maximum amount they can receive," said FEMA spokeswoman Nicol Andrews. "Basically if you lived here, . . . if you lost everything you owned, which is presumable, you'll probably receive the $26,200," though renters will receive less.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/04/AR2005110402131.html

Well, I suppose when dealing the the government, 2 months is really kinda ike a blink of an eye..

That headline is hilarious. :rofl:

And they looked like fashion gods while doing it, too.

What do you mean, November 5????

About fucking time, I'd say....