FEMA: I wasn’t hurt as much as most, but I did have approx. $40k of damage. Roof, front columns, carpet, shutters, shed, cars, etc. I started working on my house to get back in shape. By the time FEMA came out (3 months later) to check my claim, I had everything fixed, so they denied any claim. I even had receipts showing that I had to go to Florida for pharmacy, gas, food, etc. and that was even denied. FEMA is not my complaint because I Never thought I would get any help from the government anyway! However, my biggest complaint, is the Red Cross. I believe this organization is as crooked as the UN. They did not give us any type of financial help. They have ONLY spent 185 million of the 1.8 billion that was donated. I have never heard from them. I live just off Courthouse Rd. and did not see Red Cross in our neighborhood until DAY 17 (had 1 bag ice and 2 gallons water). Not until DAY 30 did they bring food. The next 8 days, they brought hot lunches and then disappeared. I have not seen any Red Cross person around Gulfport since October 9th. I still see commercials for them asking for donations. Remember what they said just after the hurricane? “We will be here until the Last person is helped!” Get rid of this corrupt junk.
- George
Could the local government quit talking and planning on all of the new buildings and things they are going to build and START getting things fixed that were broken BEFORE Katrina? The main water pipe in our neighborhood busts every month or two and has been for 3 - 4 years now. It will break in front of my house. Then it will break in front of neighbors house. Then down the street. And ON and ON and ON! It breaks sooo often, they do Not bother to repair the road after digging because they know that they will have to dig it back up next month. SO, now there are big pot holes all along the street. Some 8 inches deep. I am sure many of you had issues like this before there was ever a Katrina. I for one can do without new government buildings, historic places, etc. and have our infrastructure FIXED 1st.
Comment by Local Gov — January 2, 2006
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My family and i just arrived in lousiana from california on aug 1,2005.After katrina hit we used all of our money we came here with.We stood in line at a red cross location in natchez,mississippi for twelve hours for assistance.I was told that they could’nt help us and that our family we now had to stay with could not help us either.Five armed national guards came and rudly escorted me out of the faclility.They told me that if i returned that they would throw me in jail.One of the army guards told me that my family could file for me,but tje other guard who was in charge told him no and then told me if i didn’t leave that he would have me arrested.i did not give them a reason to tell me that,but i felt racial discrimination.I think that if red cross is going to discriminate then they need to go.
Comment by Elizabeth Cole — May 28, 2006
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