As they say, it’s not what you know, it’s who you owe… isn’t cronyism a wonderful political tool. Without doubt, the true author of this incompetence would advise you to simply "STAY THE COURSE!"

Sounds like a lower level issue than a senior administration level snaffu. Point the finger where it belongs people and stop beating a dead horse. Do you blame you Governor for the slow and agonizing service you get renewing your drivers license? Do you blame your mayor for property tax disputes? Expecting any governmental organization, the Military included, to be on time, within budget, working exceptionally efficient and everyone with a smile on their face....well...I have some real nice beach front property in Louisiana I want to sell you. Stuff happens, even when your house has a view.

"Heck of a job, Brownie". It starts at the top. Is this any different than the mess in Iraq? At least they are consistent.

Please call Thad Cochran's office immediately and report this to them! We went through the same thing, a mistake on the part of a FEMA employee that kept us in limbo for 2+ months. It wasn't until I called Sen. Cochran's office that I finally got someone to help us.

The response you received is unbelievable, infuriating, and many unprintable things!!

Unfortunately, depending on the government almost always results in such things. Changing the administration or the people in FEMA won't improve the situation much if at all. History proves (in this country as well as others) that depending on the government (with the possible exception of local governments) puts bureaucrats with no personal interest in the problem in charge and we can all see the result.

I suppose this sounds anti-government but what I mean is that we need to remember how the Fed's perform when we plan for what we will do 'in case'.

In this case, there is no alternative except to keep 'hounding' FEMA.

MAYBE IF THE WORKERS IN FEMA HAVE GONE THROUGH SUCH A TRADGEIC UPSET THEY WOULD RE-THINK THEIR MORAL STANDARDS, THIS IS REALLY SAD, THAT OUR PRESUDENT AND GOV ALLOW SUCH HORRIFIC ACTIVITIES

Not since the Nixon White House have I witnessed a more criminal federal government. God help us get past this insanity, lyiing, sneaking, snivvleing bunch of crooks who see the American People as nothing more than money machines that aren't to bright. It is very understandable why FEMA is so criminal in its activities.

Diasater after diasater, the government proves its ineptness. The workers dealing with those diplaced and injured seem to be willing to play the fool. Our tax dollars are paying for a top heavy slow moving hog.
Government ought to take a lesson form the new military
format, lighter, better trained and faster.

I find it sickening that our government can spend billions of dollars a month killing people and destroying property yet can't take care of its own citizens. Why do we pay taxes??

It is amazing how people are so quick to blame the Republical administration. I am not very proud of them right now but FEMA was not invented, nor did it mature under the guiding hand of George Bush. There is a lot that is wrong, on that we can agree but what is wrong is the culture within all Government agencys and this occured though many administrations.

Perhaps if you told FEMA that Halliburton is going to rebuild your house, it would speed up the process.

I work for a large condo management company in Florida. The amount of money that FEMA paid out for THEIR WORKERS as living expense was astronomical. Yet I still have a hole in my roof from Ivan.

i think that Bush and all his merry men should be impeached, it sad that the poor are treated less than human, and it is even sadder that the american public'
is not in an uproar regarding the entire Katrina. The incompetence starts at the top Bush and it filters down to all the republican whom has sat back and said nothing and did nothing to easy the pain of the poor,
all dogs have their days and Bush and his merry man hasn't seen nothing yet.
Nancy Valentine, Gary, Indiana

While this incident is tragic, the fact that the problems can not be fixed is much more tragic. We need a true champion to box some heads and get things to work like they should.

Yes, Maria, there is someone who can justify your dilemna. Our Precious, Gollum Dubya Bush. Stay the Course, Frodo. PP

Perhaps the inspector should seek work in Brown's new consulting firm. Whatever the firm doesn't know about disasters can quickly be compensated for by their expert knowledge in doing nothing, passing the buck and lying. The inspector should fit right in. Better yet, if the inspector can hold out until 2008 there might be even more Republicans out who will open up avenues that will capitalize on skills such as incompetence, finger-pointing and deception.

That's just a damn shame. Hopefully all of the people affected by such incompentence will remember this when it comes time to vote. I just hope the past 5 years have proven to all American citizens just important it is to be well informed when the polls open.

its just ashame that we americans mainly poor black americans are treated like dirt and the Bush adminstration could care less. Be a foreigner and you will be treated like gold.

It makes me very sad to see how little the American people mean to the government - especially the current administration. Their attitude is to send aid and try really hard to build up a country that basically hates us, but at the same time tell the people of the United States, our citizens, that they "do not qualify" for help after a disaster of the magnitude of Hurricane Katrina.

Folks should know that the FEMA inspectors do not work for the federal government. They are independent contractors who work for a very politically connected firm, Parsons Brinkeroff. Inspectors are responsible for all their expenses and receive a set amount for each claim investigated. I suspect it is Parson's who is responsible for the screw up. Ironically, FEMA does not pay that much out in claims. It probably pays more to outsource the claim process than is actually paid out in claims.

I would ask that we not politicize this issue. What we should focus our energy in getting these people the help the need. Once that is done then we can play the blame game

You're surprised at the level of incompetence in a government agency? Honey, where have you been? Ever heard of Pearl Harbor? This is SOP, especially in the Bush Administration. If they couldn't get the correct intelligence on Iraq's WMD, what makes you think they can get a little detail like your vanished house correct? And some people still think "Bushie, you're doing a great job!"

The FEMA employees are sitting waiting for people like you to give up after they are told no. They are trying to wear you down. Don't let them! You sound like a person who has paid your dues and paid taxes for the many services that FEMA has to offer. There are plenty of others that were shipped over here to Texas that have not worked more than a day in their life and they are reaping all the rewards. You are more entitled than anyone, and please don't let people's indifference towards your situation sway your determination. Keep posting and keep the pressure on. There are plenty of good people who do care and together we can make a pretty loud voice to have to deal with.

I can't believe the level of incompetence and lack of compassion the FEMA has shown. I doubt history will remember them kindly although I doubt that offers much comfort to the homeless. I hope you and your family are able to get the assistance you need.

As President Reagan once said, "The most frightening words you can ever hear are: 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help you.'".