Hurricane Katrina

A Katrina Victim tells his story

Eric Hammersley — Sat, 24 Sep 2005 19:14:00 GMT

It has been almost a month since Hurricane Katrina and nearly as long since I posted the article, “Financial Assistance for Katrina Victims is… sent by mail?”. Since then I have received numerous responses to my article from displaced Katrina victims who are having all sorts of problems with FEMA and emergency assistance. I want to share one of the responses with you that I received this morning.

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To whom it may concern:

On September 6th, 2005 I applied to FEMA for disaster assistance while at the American Red Cross shelter in Raleigh, North Carolina. I spoke with FEMA representative David #9496. I was asked questions about the damage received to my apartment and personal items. I explained to David that I was a New Orleans native and that after having to live in a flooded apartment with no electricity or water, severe damage to the kitchen ceiling, exterior balcony, broken bedroom windows, and after loosing several personal possessions while caring for my disabled mother for a week ..... I suffered severe hurricane and flood damage. FEMA had also declared that the zip code 70113 is a disaster area. This is the area in which I lived. However, my application was for disaster assistance was denied! I was unaware of the situation until I had a chance to check on the status of my application.

I called FEMA and spoke with representative #50027 and explained the situation. She told me that it is obvious that I lived in a disaster area and I would not have received a FEMA ID number and that apparently there was an error in the filing of my application. The person I spoke with was very friendly and helpful. She told me that my case was going to be referred to a caseworker and that the issue should be resolved in 3 to 4 days. I felt that things were starting to look a little brighter.

Since then I have called everyday to check on the status of my application. Every time I call a FEMA representative tells me they are going to refer my case to a caseworker and that it was under review - inspection. I've tried to check my status online but have had no luck retrieving the pin # I requested from the fema.gov site :(

On 9/16 at around 11:00 am, as an act of desperation, I decided to try and call FEMA yet again! Please keep in mind this is after repeatedly calling the same number daily over and over and over again until you get the standard voice greeting and then a hang up :) Finally I got through, at about 11:45, and spoke with a FEMA representative. I was not quite sure if I was given a representative # but the person I spoke to was very unhelpful. She even tried to blame me for the situation because apparently she said my application read as me not having hurricane or flood damage. Needless to say that was the straw that broke the camel's back. The representative was rude and even laughing at the situation. She tried to tell me things I had heard over and over and over again. If there was more focus on fixing the problem I don't think I'd be writing this letter today. Lastly, after a heated verbal argument the representative hung up.
In the process, all the money I had has dwindled on food or some other unexpected expense. I have temporary shelter with a college buddy but it is not permanent or guaranteed daily. I am an independent, single, tax paying male.The owner of the store I managed canceled our last paychecks with PAYCHEX systems and claims he can not pay us. I have applied for food stamps and unemployment and haven't received either yet. I have also been looking for employment.

Thankfully, the American Red Cross was there to help me and my mother evacuate from my apartment in New Orleans to North Carolina. They assisted me by giving me a $360 debit card in which most went towards a plane ticket to Mississippi and food. Every time I call FEMA they send me to American Red Cross :(

Believe me I understand that I am very fortunate. I have not had life sustaining injuries and I really could care less about my physical properties. I know that FEMA is overwhelmed with calls and people that need help. That's why I was patient. I even dedicated a lot of my time helping people that were less fortunate during the hurricane. I have waited long enough! I need FEMA assistance to continue with my life. I have seen people that I have helped file applications for FEMA receive assistance within 3- 5 days of their claim. They have moved on with their lives. I feel like my wings have been clipped. Ii is obvious that I can't go back to New Orleans and that I need assistance. Katrina happened August 29 of 2005. Today is September 24, 2005. Why am I still suffering?

Kenneth Bryan

FEMA Director Michael Brown's background in question?

Eric Hammersley — Fri, 09 Sep 2005 16:38:00 GMT

Ok, I’m reading the news about how everyone (I’ve only included one example but there are more) is questioning Under Secretary Michael Brown’s background and ability to lead FEMA. Apparently his biography posted on the FEMA web site is, well… skewed to look good.

Now, I don’t want to get into a political battle here but I have one very important question.

Why didn’t this come out during the Senate Nomination Hearing? Isn’t that what they are for?

You can view the hearing documents here from the 107th Congress but be aware that the GPO database is being hit hard and therefore you might have your try several times before you get the document back. I have provided a mirror of it here in case you have trouble getting to it.

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In addition to this the BBC is reporting now that Under Secretary Michael Brown has been replaced a head of disaster relief in Louisiana. You can check out their story here.

Financial assistance for Katrina victims is... Sent by mail?

Eric Hammersley — Fri, 09 Sep 2005 11:30:00 GMT

In the Reuters article this morning “White House faces new questions on Katrina relief” they discuss the much debated FEMA Debit Card program. This article suggests, or states I guess, that FEMA has suspended this program and will now issue the $2000 in emergency disaster relief by direct deposit or CHECKS SENT BY MAIL!?!?!

Present day, an over crowded disaster relief station in Louisiana filled with people who have nothing but the clothes on their back, in a strange city, tired, hungry and exhausted from being recently displaced by hurricane Katrina and left stranded for days on end without assistance.

“Fill out this paperwork so we can get you your $2000 in emergency disaster relief.” says the FEMA worker who just finished lunch. “What?” the displaced citizen of New Orleans replies, “How am I supposed to get my money from my bank account? My bank is in New Orleans along with my debit cards and check book and I need the cash now.” “Well,” replied the FEMA worker, “you can receive your emergency funds by postal mail, just provide us with your address and we’ll send it right out.” Amazed and astonished the aid worker would even consider that a viable option the displaced citizen of New Orleans turns to him and beats the living shit out of him with his own clipboard.

and… scene.

Atlanta gas prices are how high?

Eric Hammersley — Wed, 07 Sep 2005 01:13:00 GMT

Ok, at least 3 times today I’ve had someone come up to me and say “Did you see where gas was up to $6.00 / gallon in Atlanta GA?”

While I did see a brief news story on this last week I also know the Governor of Georgia stepped in and throttled the prices. I believe it happened the same day even.

The interesting thing to me is how it took a week for this story to trickle into the gossip chain. Never the less on all three occasions today I pointed them to this site: AtlantaGasPrices.com. While it might not be up to the minute information the graph trends don’t show any unusual spike in prices over the past week.

Just some interesting information.

Aerial photos of the New Orleans flooding

Eric Hammersley — Wed, 07 Sep 2005 01:03:00 GMT

Ok, I’m not trying to dupe Slashdot here but it is some very interesting stuff. Google Maps has posted updated (August 31st) aerial photos of the New Orleans area post hurricane Katrina. The NOAA has also posted a set of very detailed aerial shots. I suggest you check out both sets but if you want some really detailed views of the damage spend your time with the NOAA shots.

You can view the new google aerial shots here or you can go to maps.google.com and search for New Orleans then click the red Katrina button in the top right.

Be sure and check out the Superdome and toggle between the Satellite and Katrina buttons for a pre and post aerial view.

If you know where you are clicking the NOAA aerial shots provide MUCH BETTER detail and are taken from a much lower altitude. You can also check out the NOAA aerial shots here. NOTE: the photo orientation is not always North.

It took a while but here and here are two good up close shots of the Superdome from the NOAA site. You can even see the emergency vehicles on the highway. Oh, and the main New Orleans city grid can be navigated here. The coverage is not complete but it gives you a really good idea.

I knew it was bad but honestly, after seeing the aerial photos up close I wonder how that city will ever get out from under this one. Leave your comments after checking out the aerial shots.