Laz, I assumed you and most others on SI who frequent the various political threads had read this. I think I even PMed it to you, along with even more of the story.
Message 21688376
More from Our Man in Houston (A respected Houston, Texas, trauma surgeon)
September 09, 2005
" I do not want to get too political, but the genius behind the cruise ship and the debit cards was the current director of FEMA, and I suspect his motivation for both was political. NEITHER idea was discussed or presented to the LOCAL highly successful INCIDENT COMMAND CENTER. We would have recommended that the debit card, etc. be part of a coordinated positive reinforcement as a person walked out of the shelter to a new abode, a new job and a new beginning. In the Astrodome, they have free access to phones across the US, free flights on Continental airlines to anyplace in the US that Continental airlines flies, all the blankets and cots they need, three meals a day, all the water, etc they can drink, exposure to the many doctors from Baylor College of Medicine and other volunteers in the city, transport to the hospital for any major condition, free clothes, free shoes, etc. etc. etc. etc. The only need for new cash is not to go back to a cot, and wait for someone to clean up after one, but to be a transition to a new beginning. To spend federal dollars on a $400 pair of shoes, getting ones nails done, buying cigarettes, and other things available on the street, is the wrong message to give to a group of people with NEW HOPE. It adds ADDS to the possibility of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
"I do agree with you that the position of director of FEMA should have a different attitude, understanding the real local needs of a coordinated local response, or someone should be in that position that does understand that."
- Holly |
