FEMA - A Democrat Whipping Boy : No Crisis Gone to Waste

I wonder how long it will take for the people to wake up to the reality that an over reaching federal government is not in our best interest? While $billions are wasted and progressive democrat politicians demand more control of events that they have no idea what the situation consists of, they stream to the disaster screaming 'all is coming to an end without more funds'. But no matter, more federal funds can be acquired and stolen with ease.

"Never let a crisis go to waste". Need more proof? Katrina, or Sandy where the efforts of the government are still not complete or effective, and the BP oil spill where the feds sat on their hands until the oil came ashore so $billion could be demanded to 'save the people' by ripping off the taxpayers and BP to mention only a few disaster where democrats as stealing us all blind.

The corruption and waste is incomprehensible. No, I haven't forgotten New Jersey or our rotund governor squealing for federal money , more then willing to kiss the ring that smacks him the mouth. 

FEMA Playing a Greater Role in State Disasters than Intended
Source: Chris Edwards, "The Federal Emergency Management Agency," Cato Institute, November 18, 2014.

November 26, 2014

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is considered by many to be the nation's "first responder" in the event of a disaster, but a new report from Chris Edwards of the Cato Institute contends the agency is supposed to be a financial aid organization only -- not to replace state and local responders. That, however, has not been the case, as FEMA has become more involved in handling state disasters.

Under the Stafford Act of 1988, the federal government is only supposed to involve itself in state disasters if responding to the disaster is beyond the state's capability. But in practice, says Edwards, the federal government routinely agrees to declare state disasters "major disasters" so that they qualify for aid from FEMA. While just 51 disasters were declared in the 1970s, 127 were declared in the 2007s. Already in the 2010s there have been 139 disaster declarations. What's the problem? Edwards explains:

• Federal intervention creates a great deal of paperwork which inhibits recovery and response.
• Residents of non-dangerous states are forced to subsidize those who choose to live in more dangerous locations.
• States and localities are disincentivized from preparing for disasters themselves, because they expect federal monetary aid. As a result, states have cut disaster preparedness budgets.

Edwards explains how FEMA has actually obstructed local relief efforts, despite that local actors are often better equipped to handle disasters because they are familiar with the area. Moreover, the program has been plagued with waste: a GAO report estimates that at least $1 billion in Hurricane Katrina aid payments were invalid, and a report from the Associated Press found that individuals received up to $1 billion in taxpayer funds by claiming to have lived in homes that did not actually exist before the hurricane.