MIAMI - Disaster victims might one day watch their homes and communities be rebuilt from the cool comfort of a front porch. ...more

May 28, 2008

The anguish of Hurricane Katrina should have ended for Gina Bouffanie and her daughter when they left their FEMA trailer. But with each hospital visit and each labored breath her child takes, the young mother fears it has just begun. ...more

May 28, 2008

When I wrote the letter to the editor about milking FEMA it was directed at the people that have been living off the taxpayers since the hurricanes and still are. I do understand that there are many people that have gotten away from FEMA by getting their own homes rebuilt, or finding other homes to raise there families. That's the way it should be and I certainly support the people that have. Yes, FEMA is as well organized as the rest of the government, which is somewhere between ridiculous and totally out of control. It makes it very easy to milk the system, and by doing so take advantage of all the taxpayers of this country. ...more

February 25, 2008

In response to the article Milking FEMA, I find it quite interesting how one person can begrudge someone without knowing all the circumstances involved. Yes, I am "that lady." I do not need to justify to you as to why I received assistance after damage caused from a hurricane. I will say that I am a taxpayer, have a job and have a home. Oh, I have been in the work force for greater than 30 years. So, let me laugh at your remark as to "get a job and a home!" ...more

February 24, 2008

By not retaining the lessons of the March 13, 1993, coastal flooding emergency, West Pasco residents and officials are having to scramble to get in compliance with Federal Emergency Management Agency flood rules and qualify for bigger flood insurance discounts. ...more

February 23, 2008

I find it interesting that so many of the people that were helped by FEMA, (a.k.a. taxpayers) feel that they should not have to repay for the housing and other services that were provided them in an emergency situation. There has been a few million dollars in fraud and theft that will never be recovered, and some people are still living in trailers and hotels supplied by us and have just milked the system to the extreme. ...more

February 21, 2008

In a perfect world, residents along Pasco County's vulnerable west coast would pack up their things and move inland. Their homes would be leveled, and the land would be turned into public parks. ...more

February 20, 2008

County officials are working to enforce federal flood regulations in an effort to keep property insurance rates down. ...more

February 18, 2008

SEBRING — It came in the mail last week, although it's dated Jan. 15, a collection notice from FEMA. "I have no idea why they sent this," said Gail Fotheringham, 57, a grandmother who lived in a FEMA mobile home for 18 months with her daughter and three grandchildren. "You have not paid the amount you owe the Federal Emergency Management Agency for Mobile Home Rental," said the letter, which seeks a balance due of $1,357.58. Mary Hudak, a spokeswoman in Atlanta, said FEMA, on an ongoing basis, is collecting money owed to the federal agency for a variety of reasons. After the hurricanes of 2004, which ravaged Central Florida, FEMA provided $1.184 billion in assistance to individuals and households in Florida, and hundreds of mobile homes to families in Highlands and Hardee counties. "If people needed money, FEMA advanced it to them," Hudak said. But they were expected to pay back the federal government. ...more

February 16, 2008

How many trailers are involved? The Federal Emergency Management Agency says 25,162 trailers are occupied in Louisiana, 10,362 in Mississippi. The trailers were made by several companies. Some were made specially for FEMA. ...more

February 15, 2008