I understand what your saying, still looks like they would offer some help and not just deny helping us

 

They could at least give money, I agree.

 

FEMA should be equiped to handle multiple scenarios happening in different parts of the country at the same time. I am sure all the flood victims are getting federal help right now.

Maybe its because Texas is a Republican state. (For all the leftwingnuts, its just a joke, don't get your panties in a wad)

 

LOL thats exactly what I think it is

 

I was just going to suggest voting Democrat occasionally and maybe he could help you guys!

Maybe he wants Texas to become it's own country afterall...then he can bring Puerto Rico online and we all wouldn't need new flags!

In all seriousness I hope all you remain safe and hopefully can get the help you guys need.

 

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/politics/...226234.html?dr

"The Federal Emergency Management Agency defended its decision to refuse to declare nearly all of the state a disaster in the wake of devastating wildfires, saying Wednesday that the state has already received sufficient U.S. government assistance.

Late Tuesday, Gov. Rick Perry criticized the White House after learning that his April 16 request for a federal major disaster declaration and additional help had been rejected.

"I think we've had 9,000 separate fires in the state of Texas," Perry told reporters in Austin on Wednesday. "The federal government has only helped us with 25 of them. That's inappropriate."

But a spokesperson in Perry's office confirmed that of the roughly 9,000 reported wildfires this season, the state has only applied for 25 fire management grants through FEMA. And every request has been awarded to the state, the Perry representative said.

A FEMA spokesperson confirmed that the agency awarded Texas 25 "FMAGS" this fire season. The representative couldn't put a dollar amount on the how much the grants were for.

In a statement to The Associated Press on Wednesday, FEMA spokeswoman Rachel Racusen said that the federal government has already provided Texas with assistance.

"FEMA has been in close contact with the state since the fires occurred and, based on the information they provided, it was determined that there was not a need for additional support at this time," Racusen said. "Over the past few months, FEMA has awarded over 20 fire management grants to the state, which provide targeted funding to help with firefighting efforts, including 16 in April alone."

In 2006, Texas was granted a disaster declaration -- and $19 million in federal aid -- after 1.9 million acres burned, according to FEMA. Wildfires since November have blackened at least 2.2 million acres and damaged or destroyed more than 400 homes across the state.

FEMA will continue to work closely with the state and local emergency management officials, Racusen said. Perry said the state will consider all its options, including an appeal, which must take place within 30 days.

"I am dismayed that this administration has denied Texans the much needed assistance they deserve," Perry said in a statement Tuesday night. "It is not only the obligation of the federal government, but its responsibility under law to help its citizens in times of emergency."

The governor isn't alone in his fight for funds for Texas. Twice in the past month, U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison have written to the Obama administration urging them to honor Perry's request.

"When nearly 7,000 individual wildfires burn through more than 2.2. million acres, result in loss of life, and destroy homes, businesses, farms and ranches across the state, it's hard to understand how these conditions don't spell "disaster" for this administration," said Cornyn on Wednesday. "We've yet to enter the hottest months of the year, and already wildfires have wreaked havoc in Texas -- yet our state has not received sufficient federal disaster aid. I will not stop fighting until Texas receives its due attention from President Obama and his administration."

Last week, Perry criticized President Barack Obama's administration for its speedy disaster declarations for areas hit by the tornadoes in the South that killed more than 300 people while Texas' request went unanswered.

"You have to ask, 'Why are you taking care of Alabama and other states?' I know our letter didn't get lost in the mail," Perry said Thursday.

His April 17 request for a disaster declaration for 252 of the state's 254 counties came before last week's wave of tornadoes and other damaging storms.

A "major disaster declaration" would have made the state eligible for help in responding to and recovering from the emergency.

Two firefighters died in separate incidents in April. Elias Macias Jaquez, who volunteered with the Cactus department, suffered severe burns. Gregory Mack Simmons, who was an Eastland firefighter, was killed after apparently being hit by a vehicle while in a smoke-filled area.

More than 200 Texas counties have outdoor burn bans as scattered wildfires continue. West Texas remains critically dry, according to the Texas Forest Service."

NBC DFW's Omar Villafranca contributed to this report.

Copyright Associated Press / NBC Dallas-Fort Worth

 

FEMA should definetly help texas but rick perry has kind of a past of being against government help, so maybe they figured he didn't want it? IDK but they should help

 

Not my intention to defend the Obama Administration and its politics but here (here as in the US) you have people pointing the finger at Obama for FEMA refusing to continue helping the state of Texas.

First of all where will FEMA get the funds to help more than they already did?

Secondly, isn't it true that the majority of Texans refused stimulus funds?

Thirdly, lets say FEMA does everything it can and is successful at reducing the amount of damage. Would you all, who are condemning Obama for not doing enough, praise him for his efforts?


P.S.
I have my fingers crossed for the well being of those who are being affected. My wife has family in Texas but I don't know if they are being affected. I'll have my wife call them now.

 

Not that it is right to critique the POTUS for what a department is doing , but who got the kick in the crotch for Katrina ?

Good question. FEMA is funded from tax money. In FY2010, the FEMA budget was $ 3B. I am forgetting right now what FY2011 had the FEMA budget at, had to be close to this if I had to bet my money on it.
If it is $ 2.5B, did they spend all of that already ?


If the state did not take stimulus money, does that mean they cannot get disaster funding when needed.
Sounds like TX was being responsible with tax payer's money when the federal government was handing it out like candy at Halloween.
I guess states should take every bit of money, regardless if they need it or not ?

2 things stand out for this.

1. You point out it is not Obama's fault for FEMA not providing funding ( or not enough, or they provided it on all requests, but did not classify it as a disaster site - what ever the case actually is ), but he should get the credit for something good ?

2. Could be a case of too little too late for this one ( just from what I see, not my opinion ).

 

I read somewhere the Fed was covering 75% of the containment costs, is that incorrect information I read?

 

see isnt federal funding for certain things important?

 

Okay sorry it took so long to respond, had to have dinner and spend some time with the wife.


Right, Bush got blamed for it. If you, in general, were a Bush supporter at the time, did you also out right blamed Bush for not doing enough, and or in a timely manner?

My point is that during Katrina almost all the Dem. were blaming Bush for not doing enough or doing too little too late.

Mostly all Rep. were defending Bush saying that the "liberal media" were to be blame for spreading lies against bush.

Now the opposition is true.

Best answer I can give is,



NO, not at all, states should not take any Gov. money. I was basing my question on the fact that most don't want the Gov. to take care of them. This should be a start don't you think?

Yes I said so on purpose to make a point that the same was said during Katrina. It is not Bushes fault that FEMA not provide enough help on time.

So why would Bush have been praised if FEMA had done everything in its power and was successful during katrina's disaster?


Fair enough, opinions are opinions and not the truth.


What I'm attempting to point out is that almost every one on both sides of the spectrum are so bias they choose to become ill informed because the hate for each other runs deep.

 

It's quite the hypocrisy isn't it?

Remember how happy and proud the pubs were when Bushy was clearing the brush by hand?



The same people who scream anytime they have to pay 1 red cent in tax are now all of a sudden being the ones heard from.

Now that the raging fires are taking care of the brush problem by the hot hand of God, all those "Jesus Lovin' secessionist's "Don't tax me" Texans can do is all of a sudden Blame Obama for not giving them any Federal money.

I thought Texas hates the Federal government getting involved in their daily lives, and arnt they against tax money? Doesn't everyone believe each person should look after themselves and the government should only look after the military?

Now all of a sudden it's Obama's fault for not redistributing that socialist cash.

 

This is no different than funding the roads, cops, firefighters, etc. Nobody said the federal government needs to stop all spending, just the spending that makes no sense. FEMA response is only used when a disaster is so large that local jurisdictions cannot handle the problem. With the size of the reported fires, I would say it is very close if not too much for the local agencies to handle. Receiving FEMA assistance results in help arriving from all over the country. With all of the different agencies online FEMA takes the management responsibility for all of the responders, but answers to the local EOC. They do not take responsibility for running the show only the people responding. FEMA implements the plan the local agencies develop.

 

Don't ever apologize for spending time with the family, that is most important.

I was a Bush supporter, and same as now, I blame a bloated government bureaucracy for not doing what it is paid to do, not the POTUS.
My motto work or get fired. Same then same now. After the worst is over, time to clean house in my book, FEMA has become an anchor not an aid department. In Katrina Bush did appear to have a hand in the leadership of FEMA with the guy he appointed to the post, but this is just my opinion.

True, I will say it is nice to see the media start to figure out the POTUS does not walk on water, as it seems they have been pushing for over 28 months. Wish they could have picked a better topic to illustrate this, like missing the dead line for his budget proposal ( they blamed it on another person ? )

Disaster aid is one of the reasons the federal gov is there, just like an invasion. TX planned correctly and did not want the Pave American Beautiful grant from China. They felt this was a stupid place to spend money, but in this case this is the type of expense that the fed gov is there for.
Should TX not take any aid if Mexico decides to take TX back ?

TX and aid money is an example of what the federal gov should be doing, be there for the major stuff, not push money and policy on the state.

Bush was not praised for any part of the post Katrina actions, so this is supposition. Actually I don't think any praise could have come out of the post Katrina actions. The media hit him for the inaction that lead up to the resulting disaster, the post Katrina actions, and just about anything short of creating the weather that lead up to Katrina.

I don't think people choose to be come ill informed, I think the media does this on purpose. The media has a BIG hand in the polarization of the population to drive a wedge between them.
If we are at each other throats, we will not notice what is going on in DC ( or the state capitol if that is the case ).

Look at the mess form WI, this made so much action to either push this type of reform through, or find a way to make it against state constitution to do anything with state union employees, that nothing was being done about the mess we are in.
Nothing like avoiding the hard work, by creating busy work.

This is akin to when you had to redo those posts, you saw a major issue that needed to be addressed now.
What state and federal gov is doing would be akin to you seeing the impending disaster of the roof collapse, due to the post condition, but instead you went and did dirt conditioning in a planter where the plants seemed not to be doing so well.