[StBernard] Police: FEMA trailer parks a criminal 'haven'

Westley Annis westley at da-parish.com
Wed Jan 10 23:39:47 EST 2007


-----Initially, FEMA's private security guards checked who entered the
sites, but
screening has become lax, Doran said.


Lax is an understatement. I haven't seen security guards by these parks
in months. My son is living in one until his home is finished. As soon as
the trailers started filling up, the guards left.
While at the Abdul Church on St. Bernard Highway, a similar problem was
evident. A man was trying to get in to get free food, without a driver's
license from St. Bernard, but from Mississippi. They told him he could go
in this one time, but the camp was for St. Bernard reisdents. He had another
man with him, who he said lived with him in one of the trailer parks. A
third man walked right on in & was stopped by the lady becuase he didn't
have an ID. He said he lived in a trailer with the first man, also. How can
2 men with Mississippi IDs and one with no ID get trailers & our own
residents can't ? I really don't think they were workers, because this was
in the middle of the day.
One more thorn in my side.....How many people does it take to cut down
branches from a tree? FEMA had a truck cutting presumably dead branches and
branches extending in the right of way (This particular branch wasn't in the
right of way) Then there were 2 pick up trucks & 1 van with it. When the
branch was cut, the 4 vehicles formed a caravan looking for more branches.
Other than the truck actually cutting the tree (2 people were in it), I
couldn't see how many were in the other 3 vehicles. But I don't think it
takes 5 people to cut trees---especially when the other 3 just stay in their
vehicles and watch. Similiar thing happened a few months ago when they were
picking up gutted debris. 9 people: 3 truck drivers receiving the debris &
1 bobcat driver (Which I can see), a supervisor watching to ensure the work
is being completed, 2 supervisors sitting in a truck ensuring he is doing
his job, a FEMA guy sitting in hi s truck to watch the whole thing and one
guy to put out the "men working" signs who waits around for the job to be
finished in order to pick up the signs (One of the other guys just sitting
around watching can't walk a few feet to put out & pick up the signs ?) I
asked one of the supervisors why there were so many of them & this is
exactly how he explained their jobs to me. This is where wasted money is
going that could be used for more beneficial projects or to help people get
back in their homes. And I am sure that they are getting big bucks !

SK






More information about the StBernard mailing list