Someone tell me why the Federal Goverment is responsible for the housing of Katrina victims?

Question

I lived in New Orleans for 8 years prior to Katrina. I and everyone who lived there knew the dangers of having a hurricane enter the lake or what might happen in the event of torrential rains. No one in there right mind believed the levee's would hold or that the pumps would get the water out fast enough. Now with all this knowledge before hand why is the Federal Goverment the scapegoat? What about the Mayor and the Governor? I'm not looking for flaming rants, I would like to fully understand why the Feds have to pay?

Answer 1

they declared it a state of emergency and asked for federal help, I live in St. Louis and they sent the national guard because we had an ice storm and the power was off for maybe 4 or 5 days, louisiana was much worse than that

Answer 2

All levels of government were recriminated for failing to act. There's three key points on why the federal government needs to pick up the tab for this disaster:

1. In times of crisis (war, natural disaster, etc.) the only pocket deep enough are the taxpayers. Surely if whereever you lived now and there was a natural or manmade disaster, you would expect the feds to help out.

2. The US Army Corps of Engineers are the ones that built the levees and are responsible for their design. I read reports where contractors told the Corps that the pilings weren't built into the ground far enough and that a disaster was in the making. The Corps ignored these warnings.

3. Many of the Katrina victims were poor to begin with. This has made them even worse off. What would you expect them do - do without help. This country is too rich and powerful to not be able to help out its neediest citizens.

If we can spend billions of dollars in Iraq every year, we can spend the necessary amounts to see that Katrina victims have their lives made whole once again.

Answer 3

I spent twenty two years in the Army. I cant see for the life of me why I did it. I was under the delusion that I was in the federal service to protect my country and it's citizens.
It seems strange. Katrina hurt Americans. The Federal government is supposed to protect, defend and help Americans because they are a government Of the people and For the people.
Helping Katrina victims is supposed to be the Duty of the government.
Helping Americans is the reason for that line "For the people"
I don't believe it's right to put all of the blame on the federal government or make them the "scapegoat"
i think the state of Louisiana needs it's collective governmental as s kicked. I think we should make politicians carry Malpractice insurance. Starting from the top down.
The feds have to pay because it is the Duty of our federal government. But I think Louisiana should be made to pay at a minimum 75%. They are the ones that failed their citizenry.

Answer 4

When there is something of this magitude that happened the state couldnt efford this . So they looked for the Feds to take over.It all boils down to dollors and cents. We the whole US united took over to help those victims as horrible as that whole scene was. The mayor basically had his hands tied as was as the governor. So where does that end up . The fed. Gov. had to step in as they usually do. And sometimes or most of the time they dont know beans about what to do. I hate that it happened to N.O. and southern Ms. but there wasnt anything to do at the time. Just glad that someone had the guts to do the right thing and pray that we dont have a repeat of that horrible storm .

Answer 5

A few reasons:

1) If the US Government (FEMA in this case) didn't do anything, there would be more deaths and the press would cast a very negative image on our government leaders (making for a public relations nightmare). Most Americans, unfortunately, believe what is on their TV - and would assume the government is "acting terrible to this situation" if nothing was done at all.

2) FEMA took a lot of criticism for the handling of a situation that was somewhat out of their control. This is a way to provide a service to these people and bolster their image (another PR stunt for the Feds).

3) In recent US history, the government has provided shelter/short-term housing for earthquake victims, east-coast hurricane victims, as well as providing funds to rebuild infrastructure.

4) Several of these people who the government is currently providing homes to were not property owners; or owned property of minimal to no value (trailer homes). The idea is they will earn enough money to buy their short-term home or earn a stable of income to qualify for low-interest mortgages.

Answer 6

At least once a week someone addresses this issue.

I think the Government is as responsible for the Katrina victims as it is rebuilding Iraq.

We help every other country with their natural disasters and I think we should have done at least that much for our own people

Phooey on who knew what when....the bottom line is making things right NOW!!

Answer 7

My question as well..,I lived in Corpus Chisit,Tx for many years and when we had a hurricane come through we had enough sense to get the hell out to safer ground and we didnt blame the govt for the destruction or think of some dumbass conspiracy of bombing levis and didnt expect the govt to take on the responsibilities of people not having home insurance.And we didnt have a racist mayor who wants to make New Orleans a chocolate town again..,no wonder people are not moving back.

Answer 8

Because the channels of communication failed in your state and the n the watch dog, the federal gov't screwed up too. But they aren't holding the entire bag. Unfortunately, the insurance companies weren't prepared for such a catastrophe..(well insurance companies never are) However, it is the federal governments responsiblity to bail their states out of emergency's.

Answer 9

They were just being nice. We as americans expect the government to pay for everything. The poor people get food stamps, housing, medical insurance off the backs of hard working americans. Why not expect them to hand out housing and money too? They all knew what could happen to them and they still didn't listen. How many of those people were getting assistance in the first place? I wish I could wiggle my nose and my house payment could be paid for. I guess some people are just lucky I guess.

Answer 10

They don't, those people who chose not to leave are idiot and deserved to die there. The federal government owes the rest of them a welfare check and a pat on the back. Since a lot of them were moved to Houston, Houston's crime rate has almost doubled. I can't say i have much sympathy for a lot of these people anymore. They need to find a way to live with out the government taking care of them from cradle to the grave.