|
|
|
Facebook
RSS
![[Nameplate]](http://www.dddnews.com/images/nameplate.png)
|
|
Fair ~ High: 79°F ~ Low: 64°F Saturday, May 25, 2013 |
|
The Penalty of Self-SufficiencyPosted Monday, February 23, 2009, at 1:28 PM
I need help, please! Someone needs to explain to me the exasperating system of disaster assistance so that my blood pressure does not hit the roof every time I see a symbol of the various agencies involved in the process.
FEMA asked us to help organize a meeting with the area churches and service agencies so that a long-term recovery committee of local folks could be formed. This committee will provide, on a volunteer basis for the most part, a central location and case management for people who need additional assistance. An important part of this process is to identify needs and prevent duplication of services. I learned a few very interesting things at that meeting -- one is that in order for our area to qualify on the FEMA scale for public and then for individual assistance, enough need has to be demonstrated. Guess what? There are a whole bunch of people in our area who take it upon themselves to do what needs to be done so that by the time some of these agencies even showed up, we had many things running as smoothly as circumstances allowed. The second thing is that there is a great gaping black hole for working folks and businesses in need of assistance. And a most interesting thing is that while the assisting state and federal agencies do provide some assistance, they mainly refer people back to the local agencies which were handling things in the first place. As Charlie Brown's Lucy would say "AUGGGHHH!" We should all be so proud of the local governments, agencies and volunteers for providing services to those in need, not just in times of disaster, but year-round as funding permits. Please pass the word on a couple of things: If you need any assistance for anything, call 211. The 211 person will more than likely refer you back to a local agency, but by calling this number, your need is recorded and this information is passed along to SEMA, FEMA and other agencies. The more calls, the more needs are documented, which helps to move us up the scale for assistance. Secondly, if you would like to make a donation to help with disaster recovery or to provide financial assistance to local agencies, please make your donation to the local agency directly or to the Kennett area United Way. The Kennett United Way distributes funds to local agencies which are approved through the application process, so we know that our money is used to help people within our own region. Any United Way donations should be mailed to the Kennett Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 61, Kennett, MO 63857. If funds are for recovery efforts, please note that. Thanks again for all who got us through the darkness and who are working with us toward recovery. Here's to the self-sufficient, may we work together to change a system which seems to penalize those who try. Comments Showing comments in chronological order [Show most recent comments first] |
Hot topics 2010 Delta Fair Parade(2 ~ 9:49 AM, Sep 23)
Getting Old is Just Hail
From TEA to Trash
The Greatest Gift
Missouri State Fair
|
Email link
Read comments (8)
Blog archive
![[Feed icon]](http://www.dddnews.com/images/icons/feed-icon-14x14.png){kind=icon}
Jan,
Winston here...You are so right on assistance for the business/personal needs of our community! I, for one, applied to FEMA and they got the wrong disaster no. on the application! ARRGGG! Leave it to government to get things messed up! I will be polite here, I got another name for it, but...anyhow... my needs hadn't been met yet with my rental houses and the renters...I had to take money out of savings, that was to pay my Past Due Taxes, and put already sufficient electrical mast heads in and replaced and Inspected again! If the city is to get assistance, why don't they call this infrastructure damage and cover what I had damaged covered as well and the city dish out funds to cover this disaster??? I know exactly what they'll say "not in their coverage"!!! Well, I guess it'll be another month or so before the city/state gets their taxes paid now!
I never heard of 211! What is this number for? 911 yea I know of...emergency services. Is this a new number or just implemented in our area for input here.
Thanks for putting frustrations here...I know about it, been there and doing that now! Thanks for posting this info here... now one knows where to "dial".
I called 211 and they said they would submit my tree damage (Its a lot more than I can handle) if I didn't hear from someone in 3 or 4 days to call back, I've never heard anything from anyone. I called yesterday and they said "Sorry, Nothing New To Tell You" TheBoneYard Productions (my business) has been out of work ever since the storm, and I'm going to end up having to shut it down if something don't come up soon. Because the place I was just contracted to start playing right before the storm hit, suddenly went out of business. So it's almost at that point where a decision is going to have to be made. Because I can't even get any help with my trees, let alone my business.
"Because the place I was just contracted to start playing right before the storm hit, suddenly went out of business"
The bar went out of business the 2nd week after the storm is what I ment to add. and now everything is booked up.
This is exactly what I'm talking about - what the heck are regular working folks going to do?
FYI, the 211 number is a central number to call for assistance. They will refer you back to a local agency but they are supposed to document your call, help identify your need and pass that information along to state and federal agencies.
BadBones, sounds as if that system is not working very well, but please keep calling them. Document YOUR calls so that we have proof of what is being done or not done. It is time for accountability, so please tell everyone else to do the same. Let's give it until next week and then compare notes to see if anyone has had any luck.
A young lady came into my office today because she had heard there was going to be a meeting to discuss plans for providing assistance to those in need. She is employed, has children and works two jobs to make ends meet. She needs help! She told me that she and the kids can pick up limbs and take them to the curb but they can't cut the limbs down that are hanging and she doesn't have the money to pay someone to do it. Your experiences and hers are what concern me - that the people who are trying get nothing while those who abuse the system seem to get everything available. I am tired of it, folks, so what can we do?
Jan,
I thought that it was strange, how it seemed that the organizations, basically punish people for working hard. I mean because our communities did not sit around and feel sorry for themselves, we are unable to receive reimbursements. The communities woke up the morning after the ice storm and said, "well its happened, now we have got to fix it." Apparently, the right thing for the community to do was to sit around and wait for big brother to come fix everything. I just don't understand the whole process and how it truly helps the people deserving help.
One day an Eskimo and his dog were out on shore ice hunting seals, when suddenly the ice broke loose and the floe drifted out to sea. In a few days and with nothing to eat, they were starving. The Eskimo espied the dog's fat tail and chopped it off, devouring all but the bare bones, these he gave to the dog, which gulped them down, then appreciatively licked his master's hand for sharing.
And therein lies the relationship between our government and citizens (er, subjects) today.
Josh, you hit it dead on...the system sure seems to work against the working folks. And Lived There, it sometimes seems we not only consume what has come from ourselves, we eagerly trail our leaders blindly offering yet anothr pound of flesh. Great input, thanks!
Unfortunately we have moved from "What MIGHT happen under a socialist goverment" to "What IS going to happen under a socialist goverment"