FEMA Red Tape Kept Moore from Building Safe Rooms for More than a Year Before Tornado (how much, dollars)
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The red tape is the problem, if they go forward with this and it doesn't exactly meet FEMA's requirements their application will be rejected.
Actually that isn't quite true. While there is a myriad of red tape regulations, people in OK are free o build any shelter they deem necessary. However, the funding is only available when an area is classified as a disaster area and by building it themselves they won't get a subsidy. This is a case where we can really say they didn't build that. lol
They started working on this safe room grant project in Oct. 2011. The red tape and constantly changing standards of FEMA delayed the projects and now May 2013, we see the devastating consequences.
The project would have added 800 more safe rooms to Moore.
Why would it matter?
According to the same conservatives who've posted in this thread, FEMA is nothing but an intrusive big government organization that wastes money.
So you should actually be celebrating that no progress has been made. That way, you don't have to accept any of that wasteful government money and be told how you have to build your safe rooms. Go build your own.
According to the same conservatives who've posted in this thread, FEMA is nothing but an intrusive big government organization that wastes money.
So you should actually be celebrating that no progress has been made. That way, you don't have to accept any of that wasteful government money and be told how you have to build your safe rooms. Go build your own.
This is a conservative's dream!
Cannot rep you again.
What an excellent point! Yes, then they could say "We Built That!
All grant applications take time. The OP only quoted one short section of the city of Moore's Safe Room Rebate Program.
The website goes on to say that the program is taking applications, while they wait for a response from FEMA on the grant application, but then another website seems to indicate a program is already in place.
"It is the desire of the City to assist persons who are in Moore to have a place to seek refuge from severe weather. To this end, the City is gathering interest forms as the first step in applying for a hazard mitigation grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. We intend to apply for 2 million dollars in FEMA funding which will assist approximately 800 Moore homeowners.
This particular rebate program is for residential homes. Rental and/or commercial properties are not eligible. If a homeowner is chosen for the program and the City is successful in securing FEMA funding, the homeowner will be eligible to receive up to $2500 in rebate upon installation and verification of final paperwork.
All registration will be completed online at the website www.soonersafe.ok.gov. This is the website for the State of Oklahoma’s Sooner Safe program; all persons who live in Moore and register prior to November 1st will be eligible for both the State program and the City of Moore’s program. If needed, assistance in registering may be provided at Moore City Hall, 301 N. Broadway, during normal business hours.
In addition, Cleveland County is offering a safe room rebate program as well. Registration for their program can be accomplished at www.ccok.us. Note that this is a separate program from the City of Moore program and the State program, and requires a separate registration. Homeowners are urged to register for Cleveland County’s program as well as the State’s and the City of Moore’s."
Actually that isn't quite true. While there is a myriad of red tape regulations, people in OK are free o build any shelter they deem necessary. However, the funding is only available when an area is classified as a disaster area...
2 years later after being declared a disaster area....
Emergency evacuators rescued them quickly; within two weeks, their paperwork was submitted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, along with those of the other flood victims of Wyoming County. Emergency housing was located, and they moved into an apartment to wait until they could find a new place to live.
Two years later, Pat and Albert Sutterlin are still waiting for a buyout so they can move out of their temporary first-floor apartment near Brick's Supermarket in Tunkhannock, and purchase a permanent home.
Diagnosed many years ago with multiple sclerosis, Albert Sutterlin's mobility is limited. In a rental, adding handrails in the hallways and other modifications are just not possible.
After Tropical Storm Lee destroyed their home, they originally planned to rebuild.
The homeowners insurance money was used to repair some of the structural damage and to replace the appliances.
However, the only way a building permit would be approved for a new house on the same site, would be if the home was raised above flood levels. That did not seem practical for the couple.
"We were offered a buyout, and so we decided to take it," Pat Sutterlin said.
After many promises, the buyout has yet to arrive.
Probably the biggest issue here is people's lives in limbo. Approve or don't approve but make a damn decision. My hometown was flooded by the same storm and there was numerous issues with FEMA like providing very little guidance through the red tape. Then they show up a year later telling the borough what they did wrong threatening to slap a $50 flood insurance fee on all the homeowners.
The red tape is the problem, if they go forward with this and it doesn't exactly meet FEMA's requirements their application will be rejected.
So.
Again, we're talking about Oklahoma...a state that hates government. A state that didn't have a single county go for Barack Obama if i remember right. But now you wanna tell me that they waited on a federal agency to do what they needed to do over a two million dollar grant? Really? When you lie in the most active tornado alley on the planet? That's what you're trying to tell me?
If FEMA is going to reject it and you really need it regardless, then build the damn thing without the grant.
But don't eschew government 364 days a year, then blame it on the day you weren't prepared.
In fact, why wasn't this done many, many moons ago? It's not like they haven't been tornado prone since the Big Bang happened.
Quote:
Originally Posted by thecoalman
If you want, they don't call it Taxachusetts for no reason.
They aren't the only New England state. Regardless, New Englanders pay a hell of a lot more in Federal taxes than Oklahoma does.
According to the same conservatives who've posted in this thread, FEMA is nothing but an intrusive big government organization that wastes money.
So you should actually be celebrating that no progress has been made. That way, you don't have to accept any of that wasteful government money and be told how you have to build your safe rooms. Go build your own.
This is a conservative's dream!
Ouch. There are door slams, and then there are door slams.
Again, we're talking about Oklahoma...a state that hates government. A state that didn't have a single county go for Barack Obama if i remember right. But now you wanna tell me that they waited on a federal agency to do what they needed to do over a two million dollar grant? Really? When you lie in the most active tornado alley on the planet? That's what you're trying to tell me?
If FEMA is going to reject it and you really need it regardless, then build the damn thing without the grant.
But don't eschew government 364 days a year, then blame it on the day you weren't prepared.
In fact, why wasn't this done many, many moons ago? It's not like they haven't been tornado prone since the Big Bang happened.
They aren't the only New England state. Regardless, New Englanders pay a hell of a lot more in Federal taxes than Oklahoma does.
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