The message from the aftermath of Katrina continues to be: "Americans must come to the realization that the Federal Government cannot protect its citizens from personal loss in disasters like Katrina, and to ask it to do so is wrong. If you can't afford to properly insure your property in these storm prone areas, don't live there."

Can you give meinfo to get in touch with Bob Warner of Arkansas who is planning the Thanksgiving meals for Bay St. Louis. I'd like to see if I can help.

I feel very sorry for everyone that has lost there home to the hurricane. I can not imagine loosing everything that I own. But, enough is enough. It is time that people learn to rely on themselves and stop expecting the government to take care of them. Some flooded and destroyed areas shoud not be rebuilt. Federal tax dollars should not be spent rebuilding areas that flood time and time again.

Why should we retroactively allow people to buy flood insurance? So we can soak the people who pay to secure themselves and line the pockets of people who refuse to take responsibility for their own actions? They spent their money on cars/trucks/booze instead of flood insurance. You reap what you sow -

The Waveland library has a computer available for people to use - also the Waveland Cafe. There is no real means of communication in the area unless it is word of mouth.
I hope the Waveland Mayor enjoys Maine as I am one who believes he should remain there. It is quite evident that the Waveland residents feel the same way!

The human nature with related emotions are no match for mother nature which lacks any emotion when acting in a natural setting. People who choose to live in risky environments, be it in mud slide prone areas, forest fire risk areas or in the gulf states need to accept their personal choices to do so without expecting the rest of the world to bail them out when things go the way of nature and not the way of poor choices made by people. Can we have the same sympathy for the drafted soldier in vietnam who fell in battle as for the enlisted soldier who falls in Iraq? These are two paralell lesons for us all to consider as we go thru our daily lives.

What an idea! Let's pass a law allowing everyone to buy any insurance retroactively. It will save us all a bunch of money. ;-)
The real tragedy is how politicians pander to the masses rather than facing the tough issues, including stricter building codes, mandatory flood insurance, and higher LOCAL taxes to cover unique local needs such as levees and seawalls.
We live on the coast, and we're required to build 20 feet above sea level. We pay thousands of dollars for flood and windstorm insurance in addition to a homeowners policy. If you choose to live in a risk area, you must be prepared.

Waveland's plight is common. Hancock County - where these 2 towns are - is all but refusing Red Cross assistance due to Red Cross' initial refusal to help them. Pearlington, MS - just West of Waveland, is in worse shape that Waveland, if that is possible.

I am in the mdist of assisting Pearlington specifically, Hancock County in general, the Humane Society of South MS and The Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse vaguely. What I am finding is that the communication is so non-existant, that these towns and counties that border each other have no clue what the others need.

Each town, city and county should get their leaders together to assess what citizens have and need, to be able to barter and trade materials, goods, food, water, services.

All of these national agencies - Salvation Army, Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, state they are helping and want to help, but these people aren't seeing the difference. They aren't seeing any action. That's why I made phone calls to become involved directly. I want my hard earned money and effort to go directly to the people. Not 10%-30% going to the mother organization and the rest to the victims.

I feel their frustration. Hancock County is a coastal county just East of New Orleans, and yet absolutely no one in the new media has even done a fly over of the area. Surprising since Brett Favre of the Greenbay Packers grew up in this county.

Why does it take such grassroots efforts to help an area that is still living in third-world conditions, without even proper latrines being built or taught how to build, by *someone* - corp of engineers maybe?!

Please keep focusing on this area. There's no one else championing their plight.

Wow. I can't believe some of the comments here. People spent their money on cars, trucks and booze instead of flood insurance?? Honestly, that has to be about the dumbest thing I've read today...

Man is the only creature on this planet that does not learn from nature. And if one out there thinks he or she does, then, it won't be long before you forget what you have learned. Positives attract and build, negatives repel and destroy. With the freedom to express, one must learn to keep positive regardless the statements and actions of the careless and frustrated. My family and I have been homeless, jobless and managed somehow to survive without any help. My family did not receive any help from any insurance co., gov't agency or any support group. We managed a $180,000.00 loss and recovered in four years and three months. I have been in Hancock Co. in Oct. and will be there in Nov. and probably for the next two years plus based on what I have seen and heard. Based on the people I met, I will be proud to work with anyone, anytime to make this country a better place.

Let me start with, we elected these officials all the way to the President. Don't like how you are being treated, fix it next time around. What everyone is forgeting is that Katrina and the destruction she left was unprecidented. We all have to learn from this. Don't panic, personally...yes there are some tough decisions that must be made but lets don't make hasty ones. I not sure what Eddie's plan of attack is (good so far from what I see) but we have to wait and see what is going to transpire (Fed and State Gov) from all of this. You all know its like mollasses.

Our personal choices are accepted, I guess you as most of the nation have not been following the news. 6 out 10 homes destroyed were not in a flood zone. A flood zone that included the destruction of Camille. A floodzone that admittedly by the Corp of Engineers may be off by a couple of feet in areas. What my neighbors are asking for is a hand up, not a hand out. Our insurance companies are refusing to pay for what they call flood, I remember asking my agent if by chance Camille were to reserect herself 'Am I covered'...'Yes you are'. Well for me and a lot of my neighbors we were not. I paid $3300 in premiums last year thinking I was covered. So I too bought off on my mortgage companies comment 'flood insurance is not required' and my agents backing that it was a waste for the area I lived in. Here is the kicker, far an additional $350 a year I would have been covered for flood...because I don't live in a flood zone. To my neighbors, buyer beware...ten years in back premiums will only get your house fixed it does not include contents (read the bill). Again politicians being politicians. So if you are like me with 4 ft or less of water damage you are probably better off saving your money and applying it elsewere.

Yes I can have the same sympathy for both soldiers because our government put them both in those situations.

The major component missing in the Katrina disaster has been and still is COMMUNICATION. We were fortunate in Picayune MS not to have lost all our homes and only a few were damaged beyond repair; however, we found out "after-the-fact" that fema would help remove debris, tarps could be provided, etc. The lack of having adequate means of communicating to the people in need and in time either via television, radio, e-mail, etc. seems to be the major problem. Once identifying a problem, a solution must be given, but in my case..I have none. The frustration of those in dire need is because they think nothing is being done soon enough. Perhaps frequent meetings such as the one in Waveland should be called and an agenda setting forth updating the actions and time lines for completion would be the best way. God Bless Them in their delima.

Again the numbness of people. We had insurance, and we had the insurance our mortage companies and laws required us to have. But as usual you don't read or hear the pleas of my community. Let me spell it out for you less then fortunate people that cant understand why we have asked the Government to help. We paid our premiums and thought we were and we were told we were covered. We were not. Flood plains established by the same government are wrong by several feet in some instances and lastly whether it the government helping or entire communities filing bankruptcy one way or another all of america pays for it.

What you should worry about more is how these storms this year put such a crunch on oil production that the higher prices at the pump were justified and yet the oil companies are posting record profits?

After Katrina struck I saw a man and his wife asking for someone to come and take their remaining minature horses where they could be sheltered and fed. What became of this couple and their horses? The report was from Waveland.

I guess thats what they do up there in CT...spend money on cars, trucks and booze. Again please become informed before throwing jabs at my community.

People who live in poverty or hover near the property line, cannot be blamed for not having flood insurance. You cannot put a blanket statement that anyone that doesn't have insurance, probably spent their money foolishly. Sure some people do not manage their money wisely but most of these people never had anything to begin with. Use your head. We shouldn't be blaming the poor for being poor, or the victems for be victems.

I don't want my tax dollars spent rebuilding homes/businesses in areas that have been flooded time and time again. This is stupid. This is not the responsibility of the government. People should purchse flood insurance or build/move somewhere else.

You folks just don't get it. Most of these people didn't live in a high risk area. They lived in areas where it has never ever flooded, not even when they recieved a direct hit from a strong Cat 5 hurricane in 1969. In addition the government officials rated their areas as no risk of flooding. The mortgage companies (who by the way make their money for the risk that they take) did not require that the homeowners have flood insurance. But now that it flooded, the mortgage companies want the homeowners to pay up (Where's the risk that they were paid to take?). Buy the way, this is not sour grapes, I did have flood insurance.

In addition are you aware that there is cap on how much flood insurance you are allowed to buy? Finally for those like me who are fully insured with homeowners as well as flood insurance, the flood adjuster thinks that it looks like wind damage, because 'after all there was 145 mph winds clocked in the area'. The homeowners adjuster (for wind damage) thinks it looks like flood damage beacuse 'after all there was a 30 ft tidal surge through this area.

When all is said and done, the people of this part of the country will remember how their fellow Americans helped and supported them (or not) through this worst ever natural disaster.

While i have deep sympathy for all those impacted by katrina i certainly have none in the future for anyone who rebuilds in that extremly dangerous geographical area.don't people learn anything from the behaviour of nature?

There is no Waveland Library. It is totally gutted, structurally unsound and will have to be rebuilt. Therefore, there are no computers there. The only two branches of the Hancock County library System standing are Bay St. Louis and Kiln. They have Internet, free phone service, fax and copy services, disaster recovery information and items for check out.

To Cliff Elicker and others interested in helping the project with which Dr. Bob Warner is involved, visit this link:

http://www.jonesbororotary.org/view.php/id/146

Information is listed about the work done thusfar and there is contact information at the very bottom of the web page.

The truth hurts Tricia yes people did buy booze widescreen t/v instead of flood insuance. I am sure they were thinking if they yell loud the world will bail them out. Now they will still be 15 feet below water level but in 500,000.00 homes we payed for and will be making the payments on for years. O and by the way the brain dead Red Cross in San Diego is having to evect the people they put up in the most expencive hotel in San Diego. Got to love it. PS you think when the big one hits san diego can i stay in a 400.00 dollar a night hotel. At what point did the thinking go from what we can do for our government to THEY OWE ME EVERYTHING GIVE ME GIVE ME

In the midst of so much chaos and complaining, Bay St Louis stands tall as an example of a city lead by those with true American spirit. These are people who didn't spend time or energy whining, but set about taking care of their immediate needs, planning for their recovery, and executing those plans. I applaud Mayor Favre and his entire very talented team, who deserve recognition for their achievements and for the example they set. Thanks to MSNBC for continuing coverage of Bay St Louis's recovery - it's encouraging to read about these dedicated, creative, persistent leaders and the results of their hard work. I'm sure this is happening in many cities across the area - a tribute to America's spirit and her citizens.

It is time to stop pointing fingers at FEMA MEMA, and the Red Cross. What we must remember the Katrina was an act of God. Before the storm,God gave Man the wit to move.Doing the storm God gave man sense to get somewhere safe. After the storm God is giving Man the chance to learn how to react the next time. And as for the flood insurance, which came first the Chicken or the egg.

Way to go Roy appreciate the back up but these idiots from around the country just cant get it I guess. Perhaps they dont have the attention span to read long posts such as yours or stay tuned to the tv past a doritoes commercial.

I can see B Leslie is about as geographically correct as a pregnant nun would be at Sunday services.

B read this please "WE ARE NOT NEW ORLEANS" All of Bay St Louis and Waveland is above sea level. We didnt live in flood plains like our friends in new orleans the bills in proposition prohibit buy-ins if you lived in a flood zone and didnt have flood insurance. GET A CLUE.

Look, if you people from elsewhere are going to insult everyone on the Gulf Coast, you can at least be consistent in your ignorance. If they were in a flood-prone area, then they would have had flood insurance and you could hate them for being repetitive loss drains on the flood insurance program. You can't hate them for repetitive claims when they haven't collected even one. They didn't have flood insurance because they didn't live in a flood-prone area, according to the government, their banks, and their insurers. They spent the money on wind insurance, hurricane shutters, plywood to board up their homes, and every other way to protect from the expected storm risk. There was a 30-foot storm surge in Hancock County! That never happened before, not even close. There is no populated place in the coastal U.S. where a 30-foot surge would not destroy thousands of homes that do not have flood insurance. The government owes them assistance because the government let the insurers exclude all water damage coverage even in low-risk areas while operating a flood insurance program that discouraged coverage by misleading everyone about their flood risk.

To those who ask "Why do we live there?" - many
do not choose to. Long time ago the Govt. thought
it would be a good idea to put a large Fed facility to
boost the local economy. In my particular work, the
only place I can do it is here at that facility. So here
we are, sitting ducks from 1 June to 30 Nov.

To all of those who are stating these people deserved everything they got - are you going to say the same thing the next time your river floods? Or there's a massive earthquake? Or Mt. St. Helens blows again?

All of these places are high risk - so if people die or lose their homes, we should all say - Too bad, so sad bye bye, right?

Wrong. It took *300* years for New Orleans to flood completely. 300! How high risk is that for being below sea level? And please remember, all of those oil refineries sitting in N.O. are *also* below sea level. Should we stop drilling for oil in the Gulf because a hurricane might hit? Spare me.

Natural disasters occur. And that's just the way it is. No amount of insurance or government can change that. But what is pissing me off the most about many of the posts here is that people seem to think these folks in the Gulf area are wanting to be spoon fed.

No! They want a TARP to sleep under so their pillow stays dry. They want a way to communicate with the rest of the country - it just ain't there folks. They want charcoal grills so they can cook their own meals.

Many people DID move. I think at least 40% of the residents of Hancock County are no longer there. But all that shrimp you eat, and all that fruit you eat from S. America comes through - guess where? - Did you guess? The gulf! So, if people don't live in these 'high risk areas', that are as high risk as many inland areas of the nation - you won't get that shrimp cocktail for under $15, if at all. Bananas won't cost $2 - they'll cost $8.

I truly hope that all of those who have commented negatively to this blog never ever have to go through half of what these folks are dealing with. You try 60 days without a manicure - much less a shower or a toilet. Could you live without a phone, or a TV or your computer or even cell service? Or a place to charge your cell phone that has no service? What you take for granted - clean clothes, a soft place to sit your fat butt, real plates and flatware and glasses - they don't have any of this.

I dare you to go down and help. You won't. You don't have the courage, the guts or the ability.

Leslie

I agree with those who state that communities in disaster prone areas should not be rebuilt. Unfortunately this decision will be made by our elected politicians whose primary occupation seems to be re-election, not promotion of the common good. It is truly time for insurance companies who have a business interest in this to take positive leadership action. Plain and simple, if reconstruction in disaster-prone areas is not funded, reconstruction will simply not occur. Maybe this isn't the best solution, but it is a solution. What if insurance companies were to take a short term loss by settling ALL claims, be they flood or wind, HOWEVER, with a written contract agreed to by the claimant specifying how those dollars will be spent, for example, only on new or existing properties a specified distance away from disaster prone areas.

This leads to the question of what will become of towns like Bay St Louis. I believe they should continue, but only as resort communities. All permanent buildings should be specifically designed to resist a category 5 hurricane. We have talented young architects in our country who I'm certain could make these storm resistant buildings both attractive and functional and probably very energy efficient. How about if beachfront property be zoned only for RVs? These could be easily moved away from peril, saving lives and property. Let's also put NEW infrastructure below ground so that wind and water and debris won't as readily knock out fiber optic communications or power. Sure it costs more up front, but in the long run is more dependable and saves on repair costs.

What we need are positive ideas on how to protect our citizens and property while at the same time allow us to continue to enjoy our beautiful Gulf Coast. Let's focus on how best to use our limited resources. Let this be a forum for positive ideas, not criticism. Let's brainstorm, people. When you brainstorm, there are NO bad ideas, simply ideas that are less feasible or practical or cost-effective than others. Let's pull together, people. That's what we Americans are supposed to be good at!

It is outrageous that anyone considered sane (which I would hope lawmakers are) would propose a plan allowing for retroactive purchasing of insurance. What a brilliant idea! Maybe we can just buy the insurance AFTER our car accident/house fire/death of loved one. That way, it wouldn't be insurance so much as a cheap way to replace all our things at the expense of those foolish enough to buy insurance ahead of time... What a joke...

Way to go Roy, I have to commnend you for saying what I am feeling, that it was an act of God, we live 28 FEET above sea level and the STORM SURGE devastated our house. We did not have flood insurance due to the fact that we were told by both the insurance company and the mortgage company that it was NOT APPLICABLE. For those who just want to put down our communites and say negative things, how would it feel if the shoe was on your foot? How would it feel to live in a house on air mattresses that would otherwise be deemed condemned. But we are one of the few lucky ones, we have a very damaged shell of a house. For those of you who believe that you are safe from a natural disaster I pity you in your glass house in believing that a stone will never break your window, because it could. Where would you be then and how could you even think about asking for help when those of you out there condemn us? I still cannot fathom that people are so narrow minded and sterotyping us and you do not even know us. That we spend our money on booze and trucks, for one I do not drink nor do I own a truck. So I guess that everyone in this country who owns a truck drinks, thats the stance that others are saying about us. Before you start labeling and putting down our community and citizens you need to come here first before you start to make unfounded accusations. As for those that had to be evicted from an expensive hotel, I do not know the whole story so I cannot comment except to say that in ANY community there are always bad apples, but does that mean the whole bucket is bad? I think not. I really feel bad for those that are so narrow minded and could say such bad things when alot us are still living a nightmare. Would you like to come down and step into our shoes for awhile? I think not, and I WOULD NEVER wish this catastrophe on anyone, no matter how petty you may be. As for those that send nice supportive comments I thank you; better than those who want to punch you while you are still down on the ground and for some of us at our lowest point. As a final word for some of you out there, you need to remember the saying of 'you reap what you sow.'

In 1969, I was on the coast in Hancock county exactly two days after Camille to see what was left of our beach house. It was gone.

When my wife and I bought our house in Waveland last year, we were very careful to buy far inland, on relatively high ground, in an area that did not flood in Camille, and well outside the 100 year flood zone as determined by FEMA. We're almost two miles from open water on nearly 20 feet of ground -- yet we had five feet in the house. We are not 15 feet below sea level and we relied on FEMA to tell us where we would be safe. We were all wrong.

We do not have flood insurance and do not expect our homeowners to pay us for coverage that we did not have. We understood the risk and took our chances. Now we accept responsibility.

But that does not absolve the state and federal governments from helping these towns survive. The tax base is decimated and only the government has enough money (our tax dollars) to help in any substantial way. I'm not talking about rebuilding peoples' homes. I'm talking about repairing the infrastructure and maintaining basic services such as police, fire, water, sewer and phone service. These are the kinds of things we are trying to do in Bagdhad after we bombed the hell out them. Why can't we do it for Waveland Mississippi?

I lived in Waveland and will again. After reading these comments I have so much to say and hope I can organize my thoughts as I am feeling so much outrage and hurt at this moment.
My house is gone, only parts of the slab remain, I had flood insurance even though not required since my house was 21 feet above sea level. We had the maxamium amount available althought it did not cover the amount of my mortgage but it was all that we could purchase(the cap). And guess what, I did not have to pay thousands of dollars for it (although I would if I could have more coverage), in fact I paid less than $400.00 a year since I was not at risk for flooding. I and many, many others did not live in places that flooded "time and time again" as so many people have assumed, actually a great majority of places that flooded this time did not flood during Camille, a catagory 5 hurricane in 1969. And as far as I am aware have never flooded prior to Katrina.
And I would really like to know the name of one person that spent money on booze, trucks, or wide screen tvs instead of flood insurance. I have close friends that did not have flood insurance, they didn't have wide screen tvs either. They were told by FEMA at the time of purchase, they did not need flood insurance and they have the paper work to prove this. They did, however, pay extra for hurricane riders on top of their homeowners policy, but of course that does not cover the damage they received from Katrina because according to insurance companies the damage is from flooding not from a hurricane. Gee, what a coincidence that they happened at the same time.
My insurance company has agreed to give us money from our flood insurance but are unsure if homeowners will make up the diffence of what is still owed on the mortgage not to mention the value of our house or the cost to rebuild. At first they where waiting for additional information from the national weather service to see if wind was involved in the disappearance/destruction of our house. And now they have hired engineers to try to detrermine if wind was invovled. The line of broken and twisted trees behind and in front of our house does tend to point to wind according to the engineer but we are still waiting for the offical report -I wonder how long we will have to wait? My parents' adjuster did admit that the tree on top of their roof(which is on the ground) did look like it could possibly be from wind.
I have been paying for a product for years and now that I need it I have to fight for it. I wonder how much insurance companies are paying for the engineers to do these studies. This seems to be standard operating procedure for all insurance companies from what I have heard.
I am not asking for anyone to bail me out. I would like the federal government to put pressure on insurance companies to give their clients what they are due! In all my years of home owning I have never before filed a claim.
I think the majority of this country does not understand the amount of devastion Katrina has caused. My family of six lost our home, my parents, my 85 year old grandmother, my in laws, and my cousins all lost their homes. This is a very common story among the people of Bay St Louis and Waveland. As some one has already stated this catastrophe is
unprecidented in our country.
As to the diffences in the town meetings I believe part of that is due to the fact that Waveland suffered much more destruction than Bay St Louis, it is easier to be calm when you have public utilities up and running. As much as I love my town of Waveland I think this would be a good time to combine the two towns; in many instances we already function as one. Althougth it may not benefit the local elected officals I do believe it would benefit the average citizen. This is just my personal opinion, I know this is a very difficult and heated topic.
More than anything I just want to be able to move back home!! We are just waiting until we have a place to live, FEMA will not put a shelter on our lot until utilities are restored. And we are hoping that soon my husband could have a job again. Our local hospital where he worked is not quite up to where it was before the storm.
I truely want to thank all the people who have helped us, there have been so many. It makes me believe in the goodness of humankind. Bless You!

Re: No Flood Insurance

Residents were told by FEMA and their mortgage companies they WERE NOT IN A FLOOD ZONE! Would you purchase flood insurance if you were told this? FEMA and banks know this stuff, they do everything to minimize THEIR risk. Well, it's their turn to pay up on the risk they took and they don't want to hold up their end.

Have some compassion...this was the WORST NATURAL DISASTER TO HIT THIS COUNTRY - EVER !

Is there a southern bias here with some of the mean comments? We are all just people here, but people who are down. I guess these naysayers are the folks who like to kick their dog when they're in a bad mood! I just can't figure them out.

I see our friend from MI has no clue either. Assuming you know something that you have no clue about is silly. Yes a bill has been proposed for retro-active insurance for a number of reasons. 6 of 10 homes were not in flood zones as designated by our GOVERNMENT and the bill only fixes the house NOT the contents. You are not eligible if you lived in a flood zone and didnt have insurance. Now this is important the bill in all its goodwill intent is to off set some of the costs that the government is going to pay anyway. Because alot of folks don't have 10 years in back premiums available they may not be able to take advantage of it either and lastly as I said before with less then 4 ft of water damage and only going to fix my house and not the contents its smarter for me to do the repairs myself and keep the difference (of what would be the back premium).

I tried to get my mortgage company to accept some of the responsibility...yeah right...I think they offered to postpoan payments for 3 months but then they wanted the 4 month payment, or they said to file bankruptcy. Jeez...what options.

I had the privilage of being in Bay St Louis from Sept 3 until Oct 5th with the Florida National Guard. We were all volunteers that felt we owed the fine people of Mississippi a return favor for helping us last year. We encountered the same can do let's fix it attitude that we in Florida are proud to have. Like us, they wouldn't live anywhere else unless they had to. We accept the laws of nature to enjoy a life style that suits us. Most of the people in Florida don't live in "flood plains" but we still lost homes to storm surges. I applaud the people of Bay St Louis and Waveland and wish them well as they start the long process of rebuilding.

I am 23 feet above sea level and I had 3 feet of water in my home. Did most of you all miss the comment that this is a one in 400 years storm. (Allstate made that statement.)
So I did not have flood insurance because the odss - 1 in 400 years help me decide not to carry it, support my children with the money instead of looking for foodstamps. So.....anyway no one is helping me either. Not having flood insurance is my fault and I am paying for it now. (and guess what, who knows if I will buy it since my home owners has now gone up to $1,200 per year - yeap! - just imagine how much flood would be)
I could fix my home today if I could get a building permit - hey Mayor Longo - home yet to solve this for ALL OF US or should we seek Favre for our help to. (bet you he would!)

Is there someplace that has no chance of earthquake, fire, mudslide, blizzard, hailstorm, flash flood, tornado, duststorm, hurricane, volcano? If so, please explain how the entire population of the U.S. is going to live there. The problem with the world is ignorant, heartless, self-righteous people, not nature.

The God Lord has given me the opportunity to make 2 relief trips to the Bay St Loius, Waveland, and Pearlingon areas. I have met so many wonderful people there, many are still hurting and continue to need all of our help. To many people are pointing fingers and talking down to the victems of this disaster. I have never seen such kind acts of neighbor helping neighbor as I have seen in this region. I would suggest to anyone who has a negative attitude on this board to go and visit this lower section of Mississippi. Try loosing your home, car, job and any and all means of providing for your family and tell me that you would not want your fellow American, Christian, or what ever organization to lend you a helping hand. People help people a whole lot better then the government can.

Just to get the record straight...many people did have flood insurance! Some flood insurance companies are refusing to pay because they say it was wind and vica-versa can be said about the windstorm insurance! Another thing to set straight...people who were told they were not in a flood zone could not purchase flood insurance. That would be like Kansas purchasing flood insurance. Give me a break! Do a little homework before placing comments!