Let me tell you from first hand experience. FEMA is a FARCE and COLOR and Ethnic background are major pluses. I managed to make a few phone calls in trying to fight this FEMA stuff, and without having to see a face I can tell you, based on the conversation that some pretty ignorant people are answering the phones. The questions I asked were right in front of me on the forms they sent me and they did not know the answers to their own question and answer form.

I made four calls to FEMA and they all scored 100% at being just plain stoopid. Or perhaps that is the game they are playing to discourage anyone from calling in a claim to FEMA. One of the outspoken ones even made a reference to the scammers in
Miami-Dade and New Orleans.

The form they sent me with my data, which they claim the information came from me as I called in the claim, is all wrong, so that means even those answering the disaster lines for Wilma, are throwbacks to the days before Bell.

Interesting though, I am given three choices in which to place ourselves, Katrina, Rita or Wilma. In our case we could go with Katrina and Wilma...

I am not a racist but I can tell you from our experience with Fema, and all the areas set up to help people that had extreme damage that if you are Hispanic, you are in the front door. If you are black you get the most help, although Sandy noted that if you are both Hispanic and black you get the utmost assistance. Now the assistance I am referring to is just water and food.

Sandy had to stand in line several times during the aftermath of Wilma, and I am not talking about lines that are half a block long or anything like that, I am talking about lines that are several blocks long. She was very uncomfortable being in line since most folks were young Hispanic looking gang types, and young blacks.

We are not racists in any form of the word but under those circumstances when you see people in front of you getting three times the water, and food, and then going to the end of the line and selling it to those people who have been waiting for hours and hours. You start to wonder just what is going on with the Hispanics and blacks in the community.

My daughters experienced the same thing in several other areas of Fort Lauderdale. But when you have kids, you have to grin and bare it. And Sandy being the head of the house, my care taker, eyes and legs had to endure much to get two gallons of water and the care package for the day, (you have seen a photo of in this), my venting.

(Note: FEMA has acknowledged that over $40,000,000 were given out to both the Hispanic and black communities, that were not even home owners and or people in need of help. And that is a low ball figure, which has exploded to well over $110,000,000 in the south Florida area). (To date we have not received any help from FEMA, for gas, the generator, medical and or even a small business loan) We have given up on even trying....

The state of Florida is now so worried about problems with the next hurricane season, you are required to sign up with FEMA before any hurricane damage. Electric has gone up to 23 per cent increase in our bills, insurance companies are canceling any one that put in a claim...

Grumble....

sure sounds racist but I am not, I can assure you, just stating what happened at the time. Sandy and I have never been ones to seek out help for anything, ever, and the one time we finally need a little help, if only for food and water, its not available unless you are.....

grumble again

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