[StBernard] Senate panel recommends abolishing FEMA

[Westley Annis]

Actually, I disagree with this because I don't think it is going to
accomplish anything.

I could be wrong, but I think the problem with FEMA is not the people out in
the field, they see what is going on and truly want to help.  The
rank-and-file bureaucrats sitting back in their desks in D.C., Virginia,
Maryland, or wherever the hell they are, they don't understand what is going
on, regardless of whether or not they care.

They have their cushy government job and will work to preserve that status
more than work to help people in need.  This means that they are not going
to do anything to buck the system.  If the FEMA manual does not tell them
explicitly that they can do or approve something then they will not do it.
Doesn't matter if the manual doesn't say they can't do it, the problem is
that it doesn't say they can do it.

Any morphing of FEMA into another organization is going to be nothing more
than a name change.  The same bureaucrats will still be there, just with a
different logo on their shirts and badges.

The only way to change this, or any other federal government agency, is to
either drop the Civil Service rules or outlaw unions for federal jobs.
There is no need for the two layers of "job protection" in a federal job.

As a an old co-worker of mine used to say of federal employees, they have
all the same benefits of someone who is in the military plus one more, they
can quit.

Want to shake up FEMA, send out a survey card to every recipient of any FEMA
assistance and ask them what they thought of the people that worked on their
case.  Get too many negative marks that are not justified and let Uncle Sam
show you the door.  Put some real consequence into the job, then maybe they
will start actually helping people.

Westley


-----Original Message-----


"Senate panel recommends abolishing FEMA Disaster agency beyond repair" 

**Whoa, dey got dis right!! Ask my debris/trash sitting outside the home for
8 months!! Ask the FEMA 3rd party adjusters who have been cursing FEMA for
failure to give  THEM adequate info (ie. History, vital info from
homeowners, etc.) to do their jobs. One example is today, where after I've
given the info before and have appealed, I had to start over with the
representative because he had NO info, no insurance claims numbers, no
policy numbers, etc. which I've personally sent FEMA a half dozen times..

ASK JR and Craig who's been cussing with each waking breath! Ask me, and
we'll stay here forever as some "nice guy" said I had too much time on my
hands already! ;) Seems after we've fighting "tooth 'n nail" with everything
and everyone, we really don't have the time NOR resources to go around.
Hopefully for many, the buyout, insurances and proper planning prior to the
even can make people a little more independent to get on with their lives
(without FEMA!)..

--Jer--