U.S. Rejected Davis on Aid to Clear Trees

FEMA spent six months studying the governor's request, then turned it down hours before fires began, saying state was already getting funds.

SACRAMENTO — The Bush administration took six months to evaluate Gov. Gray Davis' emergency request last spring for $430 million to clear dead trees from fire-prone areas of Southern California.

The request was finally denied Oct. 24, only hours before wildfires roared out of control in what has become the largest fire disaster in California history.

Rep. Mary Bono (R-Palm Springs), a leader in the effort to get federal assistance for fire prevention, questioned Thursday why the Federal Emergency Management Agency did not rule sooner.

"FEMA's decision was wrong," Bono said. "The timing couldn't have been worse.... We knew this disaster was going to happen with certainty. It was only a matter of when, and we were trying to beat the clock with removing the dead trees."

LA Times, free registration required


It seems to me we have recalled and RECOUNTED the real leaders in exchange for opportunistic figure heads with no true ability to lead.

his whole lets remove the dead trees is wrong. Yes it might help alittle in slowing the fire down but won't stop one from occuring. "Only you can prevent forest fires"

Dead trees return vital nutrients and provide many homes and food for insects and animals in forests.

Humans seem to want to muttle in everything they can/ These forest have been around for millinea.But we know better then mother nature. Fuqin control freaks

What's a few hundred suburban homes? They're insured, right? :mad:

"Members of the California congressional delegation were informed of FEMA's decision in an e-mail last Friday, after some of the fires were already burning."

to give this information the publicity it truly deserves.

It's an important bit of news.

Please continue discussion in the earliest LBN thread on this topic, which can be found here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=192790

Thanks!
VolcanoJen
DU Moderator

Like he did against the Bush administration during the blackouts. Sometimes I get the feeling that Democrats are just giving up.