Voluntary Home Buyout Program - Harris County Flood Control District (Houston: insurance, mortgage)

[Ghost Town]

Originally Posted by Dopo

I get it,
socialism is fine when "we" get money, not when other people get money

I am not asking for any federal money. But I pay tons of federal tax. If I need FEMA money one day, this is not something I get for free, it is already prepaid.

[Houston parent]

There seems to be a great deal of confusion about what FEMA is and where they get their money. Among other things, FEMA is where you get flood insurance. When you wreck an old car badly (and they judge its not worth repairing), your car insurance will total your car and give you a check in return for the destroyed vehicle. Somewhat similarly, if your house floods repeatedly, it might be cheaper in the long run for FEMA to buy you out and scrape the house (sorta like totaling your house).


Furthermore, it is pretty well documented that the Corps of Engineers never purchased the entire storage basin from private land owners when they originally built the Addicks dam. When people say the Bear Creek subdivisions never should have been built, I agree, but they never should have been built BECAUSE the Corps of Engineers should have purchased all that land originally, rather than using it as free flood water storage for decades. I doubt those homes would have constantly flooded were it not for the Addicks dam causing water to back up outside the area owned by the Corps of Engineers on a fairly regular basis.

[Dopo]

Originally Posted by Ghost Town

I am not asking for any federal money. But I pay tons of federal tax. If I need FEMA money one day, this is not something I get for free, it is already prepaid.

Lol,
that's what everybody says

"It's not free money, they are just giving me back my money"

Who pays for the public services that you use? (roads, street lighting, fire fighters, etc)

[ptt]

They called it 'hand out'when other people get it but its a ' giving back my tax money' when they need it. As if they are only people who pay tax.

[Ghost Town]

Originally Posted by Dopo

Lol,
that's what everybody says

"It's not free money, they are just giving me back my money"

Who pays for the public services that you use? (roads, street lighting, fire fighters, etc)

I pay more in taxes than I receive in return. I pay not only federal tax, but property taxes, sales tax, other local taxes. And I am subsidizing those folks who live on welfare, section 8, etc.

[travelguy_73]

Originally Posted by Houston parent

Furthermore, it is pretty well documented that the Corps of Engineers never purchased the entire storage basin from private land owners when they originally built the Addicks dam. When people say the Bear Creek subdivisions never should have been built, I agree, but they never should have been built BECAUSE the Corps of Engineers should have purchased all that land originally, rather than using it as free flood water storage for decades. I doubt those homes would have constantly flooded were it not for the Addicks dam causing water to back up outside the area owned by the Corps of Engineers on a fairly regular basis.

I believe they wanted to either buy that land or restrict its use, but it got political, and then the land got too expensive, and the developers (and county/city officials who liked the tax revenue) got their way.

[Dopo]

Originally Posted by Ghost Town

I pay more in taxes than I receive in return. I pay not only federal tax, but property taxes, sales tax, other local taxes. And I am subsidizing those folks who live on welfare, section 8, etc.

You make it sound as if you are the only person in Houston that pays taxes

[Ghost Town]

Originally Posted by Dopo

You make it sound as if you are the only person in Houston that pays taxes

Not the only person. I am saying that I have more than enough right to claim federal money if needed one day. So far in my life I claimed $0. But this thread not about me, let's move on.

[Ghost Town]

I had a chance to visit Bear Creek/Glencairn area today. I saw some remaining signs of devastation along Clay Rd., but seems like many houses could survive. Most likely flood control district will buy out only the properties located closer to Clay Rd.
Actually they have some interesting houses there.

[testmo]

FEMA isnt the national flood insurance program. You are supposed to pay for flood insurance, if in a flood plain and in most cases when you arent, flood insurance is through NFIP. FEMA is the emergency resource MEANT for poor folks, newly destitute due to flooding and federal issues like buyouts and response to disasters.

Lots of people in my area with nearly million dollar homes without flood insurance (some cases the hpme is a second home) begging for FEMA handouts while there are families still at NRG and the convention center wondering how theyll feed kids next week

Federal assistance aint meant for everyone but yes meant for everyone to pay into because we are all better off that way