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

[Westley Annis]

Westley,

That is truly appalling.  The Senator's new seat on the Homeland
Security Committee offers her an opportunity to take the lead in
reorganizing FEMA, and she is excited about the opportunities this seat
presents.  This is not the first time I have heard concerns about safety
at trailer parks and I assure you that Senator Landrieu is aware of the
problem, but I encourage this individual to contact their council person
and Sheriff Stephens' office to find immediate solutions.

Senator Landrieu will work to eliminate waste and duplication wherever
possible throughout FEMA.  I will keep you and your members posted on
what she is able to do in this arena.

Thanks,

Wes Kungel
Regional Representative
U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu
New Orleans, LA
Phone: (504)589-2427
Fax: (504)589-4023


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