Comments for Disaster Accountability Blog http://blog.disasteraccountability.com Public Accountability Requires Citizen Action (disasteraccountability.org) Fri, 19 Mar 2010 07:47:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.3 Comment on A nurse’s perspective on critical breakdowns in Haiti by Peter Burgess http://blog.disasteraccountability.com/2010/01/22/a-nurses-perspective-on-critical-breakdowns-in-haiti/#comment-43232 Peter Burgess Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:16:26 +0000 http://blog.disasteraccountability.com/2010/01/22/a-nurses-perspective-on-critical-breakdowns-in-haiti/#comment-43232 The lack of accountability is really inexcusable ... but official organizations everywhere seem to think that this sort of information costs too much and has no value. Of course, it also enables systems that are being run in an incompetent manner to do so without an repercussions. This has to be changed ... and this is what Community Analytics (CA) plans to do in cooperation with the Haitian people. Peter Burgess Community Analytics The lack of accountability is really inexcusable … but official organizations everywhere seem to think that this sort of information costs too much and has no value. Of course, it also enables systems that are being run in an incompetent manner to do so without an repercussions. This has to be changed … and this is what Community Analytics (CA) plans to do in cooperation with the Haitian people.
Peter Burgess
Community Analytics

]]> Comment on Haiti mood resembles post-Katrina New Orleans by PlanMetro http://blog.disasteraccountability.com/2010/01/15/haiti-mood-resembles-post-katrina-new-orleans/#comment-43133 PlanMetro Fri, 15 Jan 2010 22:34:58 +0000 http://blog.disasteraccountability.com/2010/01/15/haiti-mood-resembles-post-katrina-new-orleans/#comment-43133 Part of the problem is many families are still in rough shape from the 2008 hurricane season (Fay, Gustav, Hanna, and Ike). The situation is such a very complex humanitarian issue. Part of the problem is many families are still in rough shape from the 2008 hurricane season (Fay, Gustav, Hanna, and Ike). The situation is such a very complex humanitarian issue.

]]> Comment on Fighting fires with California’s budget by Francis http://blog.disasteraccountability.com/2009/09/04/fighting-fires-with-californias-budget/#comment-43097 Francis Wed, 07 Oct 2009 07:54:31 +0000 http://blog.disasteraccountability.com/2009/09/04/fighting-fires-with-californias-budget/#comment-43097 The government needs to create a business incentive for private industry to come up with a solution for this problem. Every year the wild land fires and wild land urban interface fires are getting more and more expense to fight. The government needs to create a business incentive for private industry to come up
with a solution for this problem. Every year
the wild land fires and wild land urban interface fires are getting more and more expense to fight.

]]> Comment on A Housing Timeline for FEMA? by jtalbot http://blog.disasteraccountability.com/2009/07/13/a-housing-timeline-for-fema/#comment-43088 jtalbot Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:22:40 +0000 http://blog.disasteraccountability.com/2009/07/13/a-housing-timeline-for-fema/#comment-43088 The fact that HUD seems to be ignoring the whole point of their mission is ridiculous. FEMA went into the aftermath of Katrina with the intent of helping people and first responders to make sure people were safe. The idea that FEMA is still being left to deal with this tragedy 4 years after the fact is unacceptable and really needs to be looked at. I know that in other disasters, people have been given the choice to rebuild their own houses or to purchase the trailers. Maybe that is exactly where HUD should be taking over. Since these trailers have been lived in for 4 years, it is time for the people living in them to take ownership like they have in the Idaho floods or get another place to live. That would be the place that makes a lot of sense for HUD to step in and help make something happen. The fact that HUD seems to be ignoring the whole point of their mission is ridiculous. FEMA went into the aftermath of Katrina with the intent of helping people and first responders to make sure people were safe. The idea that FEMA is still being left to deal with this tragedy 4 years after the fact is unacceptable and really needs to be looked at.

I know that in other disasters, people have been given the choice to rebuild their own houses or to purchase the trailers. Maybe that is exactly where HUD should be taking over. Since these trailers have been lived in for 4 years, it is time for the people living in them to take ownership like they have in the Idaho floods or get another place to live. That would be the place that makes a lot of sense for HUD to step in and help make something happen.

]]> Comment on A Housing Timeline for FEMA? by etownsend http://blog.disasteraccountability.com/2009/07/13/a-housing-timeline-for-fema/#comment-43087 etownsend Sun, 20 Sep 2009 21:15:30 +0000 http://blog.disasteraccountability.com/2009/07/13/a-housing-timeline-for-fema/#comment-43087 I do not feel that FEMA should still be held solely responsible for the continued effort of recovery for New Orleans. At this point I don’t even think FEMA should be involved anymore, New Orleans is no longer considered emergent and trailers/emergent housing was provided. I'm surprised a guideline or time frame hasn't already been developed in regards to the federal government providing aide post disaster, however, 4 years is almost to the point of being ridiculous. I cant even begin to try to understand how those who were effected feel after loosing everything, however, I know I am a fighter and would do everything possible to get back on my own two feet. It would be nice to hear posts from those who are actually affected by the aid received from FEMA. I'm not exactly sure that a guideline for providing federal aid can be so strictly defined by time, although a time frame should be set preemptively and evaluated along with other criteria. Criteria for the length of time federal aid should be provided could be based on the level of destruction caused by the disaster, such as dollar amount and number of people affected in a devastating way. Of course the more people affected and higher dollar amount of destruction would equal longer relief aid from the federal government with a cap of 2 years. I feel after 2 years HUD or other state agencies should be able to step in and provide relief. FEMA wasn't established to return a disaster site back to its 100% functionality pre-disaster and the individuals affected by the disaster need to take the initiative to recover besides waiting for federal relief. After reading the IAA for FEMA and HUD in regards to New Orleans I couldn't believe 478 million was allocated for "rental assistance, security and utility deposits and case management". Could our country afford another disaster? Is there any money available if another disaster occurred today at the same level of Hurricane Katrina? I do not feel that FEMA should still be held solely responsible for the continued effort of recovery for New Orleans. At this point I don’t even think FEMA should be involved anymore, New Orleans is no longer considered emergent and trailers/emergent housing was provided. I’m surprised a guideline or time frame hasn’t already been developed in regards to the federal government providing aide post disaster, however, 4 years is almost to the point of being ridiculous. I cant even begin to try to understand how those who were effected feel after loosing everything, however, I know I am a fighter and would do everything possible to get back on my own two feet. It would be nice to hear posts from those who are actually affected by the aid received from FEMA.

I’m not exactly sure that a guideline for providing federal aid can be so strictly defined by time, although a time frame should be set preemptively and evaluated along with other criteria. Criteria for the length of time federal aid should be provided could be based on the level of destruction caused by the disaster, such as dollar amount and number of people affected in a devastating way. Of course the more people affected and higher dollar amount of destruction would equal longer relief aid from the federal government with a cap of 2 years. I feel after 2 years HUD or other state agencies should be able to step in and provide relief. FEMA wasn’t established to return a disaster site back to its 100% functionality pre-disaster and the individuals affected by the disaster need to take the initiative to recover besides waiting for federal relief.

After reading the IAA for FEMA and HUD in regards to New Orleans I couldn’t believe 478 million was allocated for “rental assistance, security and utility deposits and case management”. Could our country afford another disaster? Is there any money available if another disaster occurred today at the same level of Hurricane Katrina?

]]> Comment on A Housing Timeline for FEMA? by jsenecal http://blog.disasteraccountability.com/2009/07/13/a-housing-timeline-for-fema/#comment-43086 jsenecal Sat, 19 Sep 2009 03:44:32 +0000 http://blog.disasteraccountability.com/2009/07/13/a-housing-timeline-for-fema/#comment-43086 From what I have been reading HUD is doing what its obligations were given. It may be true the suggestions that HUD play a larger roll but whom are we to blame for this? It seems once again we see the constant political pen writing faster then anyone can keep up but no real action or responsibility given and FEMA seems to be doing what it can but again tied to the lack of proper legislation. The fact we are so many years after Katrina and still talking about this gives a clue as to the real problems at hand. In regards to temporary housing, we still have families living in them near or remote to New Orleans, years later means these people are no longer apart of the local community they may have grown up in. it would seem more affiant to have a system of mobile units that can be moved into a region for the many that tend not to want to be disconnected. In order for HUD and FEMA to embrace high standards of ethics, management and accountability (as some said in a post) I feel nothing will really change. From what I have been reading HUD is doing what its obligations were given. It may be true the suggestions that HUD play a larger roll but whom are we to blame for this? It seems once again we see the constant political pen writing faster then anyone can keep up but no real action or responsibility given and FEMA seems to be doing what it can but again tied to the lack of proper legislation. The fact we are so many years after Katrina and still talking about this gives a clue as to the real problems at hand. In regards to temporary housing, we still have families living in them near or remote to New Orleans, years later means these people are no longer apart of the local community they may have grown up in. it would seem more affiant to have a system of mobile units that can be moved into a region for the many that tend not to want to be disconnected. In order for HUD and FEMA to embrace high standards of ethics, management and accountability (as some said in a post) I feel nothing will really change.

]]> Comment on A Housing Timeline for FEMA? by HDubowik http://blog.disasteraccountability.com/2009/07/13/a-housing-timeline-for-fema/#comment-43084 HDubowik Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:51:06 +0000 http://blog.disasteraccountability.com/2009/07/13/a-housing-timeline-for-fema/#comment-43084 After such an aftermath like Katrina, a lot of loopholes would be found. Now is the time to straighten all the avenues up on who does what and when instead of playing the blame game. Unfortunetly, it looks like not much has been resolved. FEMA needs to be the one to initially be there to do what they're suppose to and thats take care of the people asap. As for people taking advantage of the system, FEMA should take care of the initial situation and after that the people should be in a better situation and able to make the adjustments on their own. In HUD's responsibility of such a situation with cleaning up the remains of FEMA's assistance is another process that needs to be set in place on what HUD is to do and not to do. These two entities need to work together to determine who needs and gets the help that both of these resources were set out to do. After such an aftermath like Katrina, a lot of loopholes would be found. Now is the time to straighten all the avenues up on who does what and when instead of playing the blame game. Unfortunetly, it looks like not much has been resolved. FEMA needs to be the one to initially be there to do what they’re suppose to and thats take care of the people asap. As for people taking advantage of the system, FEMA should take care of the initial situation and after that the people should be in a better situation and able to make the adjustments on their own.

In HUD’s responsibility of such a situation with cleaning up the remains of FEMA’s assistance is another process that needs to be set in place on what HUD is to do and not to do. These two entities need to work together to determine who needs and gets the help that both of these resources were set out to do.

]]> Comment on A Housing Timeline for FEMA? by Kmyers http://blog.disasteraccountability.com/2009/07/13/a-housing-timeline-for-fema/#comment-43083 Kmyers Fri, 18 Sep 2009 01:17:14 +0000 http://blog.disasteraccountability.com/2009/07/13/a-housing-timeline-for-fema/#comment-43083 I believe that there needs to be a timeframe on how long people can depend on groups such as FEMA to help them with their after-disaster clean up and expenses. This time limit should not go past 1 year. FEMA is there to partner with the government to find the best ways to help disaster victims get back on track. The reason I believe that there should be a time frame on how long groups, such as FEMA or HUD, help disaster victims is because, unfortunately, some people will try to take advantage of the system. FEMA is not there for people to live off of until they feel like getting things together. It is there for support so that if your town gets destroyed and needs to start over, they will help the clean up and the expenses. As citizens of this country, we need to have plans of action incase a disaster were to happen to ourselves. This could be something as little as just having homeowner’s insurance. If a natural disaster were to occur, hopefully most of us will have family or friends nearby that could help out while we get back on our feet. I feel that we should not look away from the help that FEMA offers, but we should do whatever we can to take control in our own hands and get back to where we need to be. FEMA is there to help, not to live the rest of our lives for us. I believe that there needs to be a timeframe on how long people can depend on groups such as FEMA to help them with their after-disaster clean up and expenses. This time limit should not go past 1 year. FEMA is there to partner with the government to find the best ways to help disaster victims get back on track. The reason I believe that there should be a time frame on how long groups, such as FEMA or HUD, help disaster victims is because, unfortunately, some people will try to take advantage of the system. FEMA is not there for people to live off of until they feel like getting things together. It is there for support so that if your town gets destroyed and needs to start over, they will help the clean up and the expenses.
As citizens of this country, we need to have plans of action incase a disaster were to happen to ourselves. This could be something as little as just having homeowner’s insurance. If a natural disaster were to occur, hopefully most of us will have family or friends nearby that could help out while we get back on our feet. I feel that we should not look away from the help that FEMA offers, but we should do whatever we can to take control in our own hands and get back to where we need to be. FEMA is there to help, not to live the rest of our lives for us.

]]> Comment on A Housing Timeline for FEMA? by kmyers http://blog.disasteraccountability.com/2009/07/13/a-housing-timeline-for-fema/#comment-43082 kmyers Fri, 18 Sep 2009 01:08:53 +0000 http://blog.disasteraccountability.com/2009/07/13/a-housing-timeline-for-fema/#comment-43082 I believe that there should be a certain time limit that allows citizens to recieve help from groups such as FEMA. The maximum amount of time given should not pass a year. The reason I think there needs to be a time limit is because, unfortunately, there are people out there that will take advantage of the system. It is horrible for people that lose their homes and belongings and as a government we should have groups such as FEMA and HUD to help out but not for people to live off of for long periods of time. As homeowners, we need to have plans of action incase a disaster were to happen. This could be something as little as having homeowner's insurance. Although it is not under our control if a natural disaster ruins a whole city or possibly more, we cannot rely on FEMA to pick up the costs of our living situation for as long as we need. There are little things we could do to help get back on our feet (such as staying with family or friends while saving money). No matter what we do, FEMA should be there to assist us in getting back on our feet, not taking over all of our expenses. I believe that there should be a certain time limit that allows citizens to recieve help from groups such as FEMA. The maximum amount of time given should not pass a year. The reason I think there needs to be a time limit is because, unfortunately, there are people out there that will take advantage of the system. It is horrible for people that lose their homes and belongings and as a government we should have groups such as FEMA and HUD to help out but not for people to live off of for long periods of time.
As homeowners, we need to have plans of action incase a disaster were to happen. This could be something as little as having homeowner’s insurance. Although it is not under our control if a natural disaster ruins a whole city or possibly more, we cannot rely on FEMA to pick up the costs of our living situation for as long as we need. There are little things we could do to help get back on our feet (such as staying with family or friends while saving money). No matter what we do, FEMA should be there to assist us in getting back on our feet, not taking over all of our expenses.

]]> Comment on A Housing Timeline for FEMA? by nleese http://blog.disasteraccountability.com/2009/07/13/a-housing-timeline-for-fema/#comment-43081 nleese Fri, 18 Sep 2009 01:07:28 +0000 http://blog.disasteraccountability.com/2009/07/13/a-housing-timeline-for-fema/#comment-43081 One of the problems with transitioning housing responsibilities from FEMA to HUD is a code and engineering one. FEMA trailers, while good for their mobility and ability to deploy rapidly, are expensive, have a short life span, and are not sustainable aid. Conversely, HUD is largely concerned with developing permanent housing, which needs to be up to code for occupation. I think most people recognize that there should be a transition of power from FEMA to HUD, but the bottom line is that its a complicated process. DHS Inspector General Richard Skinner spoke of the importance of "thinking outside the box". To this end, there have been some very innovative projects that developed rapidly deployable housing units of basic design. These homes can be retrofitted and easily expanded on and improved (brought up to code). This encourages homeowners to shoulder a certain amount of the burden since they feel their efforts will be rewarded. One of the problems with transitioning housing responsibilities from FEMA to HUD is a code and engineering one. FEMA trailers, while good for their mobility and ability to deploy rapidly, are expensive, have a short life span, and are not sustainable aid. Conversely, HUD is largely concerned with developing permanent housing, which needs to be up to code for occupation.
I think most people recognize that there should be a transition of power from FEMA to HUD, but the bottom line is that its a complicated process. DHS Inspector General Richard Skinner spoke of the importance of “thinking outside the box”. To this end, there have been some very innovative projects that developed rapidly deployable housing units of basic design. These homes can be retrofitted and easily expanded on and improved (brought up to code). This encourages homeowners to shoulder a certain amount of the burden since they feel their efforts will be rewarded.

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