It seems that the powers that be ran into the same problem we talked about yesterday...
It does raise the question of how HS planned to deal with a large-scale terrorist event, if they are fumbling around now trying to find "hasty, novel" solutions.
Hope Yen, Associated Press
September 10, 2005 CARD0910
WASHINGTON — The federal government’s relief agency said Friday it will discontinue its program to distribute debit cards worth up to $2,000 to hurricane victims, two days after hastily announcing the novel plan to provide quick relief.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency said it will scrap the program once officials finish distributing cards this weekend at shelters in Dallas, Houston and San Antonio, where many of the evacuees were moved. No cards will be issued to victims in other states.
FEMA’s decision capped two days of confusion in which evacuees expressed frustration with the program, which was announced by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff in a conference call Wednesday with governors of states with evacuees.
The program was initially introduced this week at the Astrodome in Houston, but it was immediately beset with confusion and questions as to who would be eligible.
Some governors and lawmakers raised concerns about the risk of abuse by people falsely claiming to be hurt by the disaster without the full documentation.
"The question is, How do you separate the needy from those who just want a $2,000 handout,'’ said Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski, a Republican… |
