No help from FEMA in So. Fla from Katrina

Dear Friend,

Yesterday, I, along with Representatives Wasserman Schultz, Hastings, and Wexler, wrote to President Bush urging him to grant Individual Assistance to Hurricane Katrina victims in Broward and Dade Counties.  I wanted to make you aware of this letter because FEMA has refused to grant assistance to individuals and families affected in our community.  I think FEMA is wrong, and that it should change its decision and help our residents.

We now know that there are over 170 homes destroyed or severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina in Broward and Dade Counties.  These people need assistance, and I will continue to do everything I can to see that they get it.  I strongly believe that all the hurricane victims should be eligible for the help they need to get back on their feet.  Our hearts go out to the victims of this hurricane.

If you would like contact information for various charitable organization offering relief to victims of Hurricane Katrina, please click here.

Sincerely,
 
KENDRICK B. MEEK
Member of Congress

 

The letter from Reps. Meek, Wasserman Schultz, Hastings and Wexler follows:

August 31, 2005

President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Bush:  

We write to urge you in the strongest possible terms to immediately use your authority to provide Individual Assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) to the residents of Dade and Broward Counties, Florida who suffered damage because of Hurricane Katrina.  

We have been verbally advised by the State of Florida, Division of Emergency Management that FEMA has denied Florida's eligibility for Individual Assistance, despite the fact that FEMA's assessment revealed 152 homes destroyed or severely damaged in Miami-Dade County and 20 in Broward County, with many more sustaining more minor damage.  We further understand that FEMA does not want to provide assistance to Dade and Broward Counties because FEMA says Florida does not meet the "State Threshold" for such a declaration, which FEMA has set at 800 homes destroyed or severely damaged.  

We ask you to reject these criteria and ensure that every resident of Dade and Broward Counties who needs federal assistance, and is eligible for it, receives it.   

We believe that the destruction, suffering and disruption of every Dade and Broward resident who FEMA itself has determined have sustained damage from Hurricane Katrina, merits the help extended to all of the hurricane's victims.  Using a "State Threshold" to deny FEMA's help to individual Floridians who need it is like denying medical aid to a few hundred sick people because several hundred people aren't sick.    

FEMA has authority under section 408 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. § 5174-5204c and Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) to provide financial assistance to eligible individuals and households who, as a direct result of a major disaster, have necessary expenses and serious needs and are unable to meet such expenses or needs through other means.  

We ask that you direct FEMA to use this authority immediately to help our residents who suffered damage from Hurricane Katrina - Florida residents who, absent FEMA's "State Threshold," would be eligible for help from their government.

Thank you for your kind attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,  

KENDRICK B. MEEK
DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ
ALCEE L. HASTINGS
ROBERT WEXLER