The governor's involvement was merely facilitating contact with a corporate citizen of Florida that was seeking to provide immediate housing relief. Any assertion the governor had to do with any contracting negotiations or further action by FEMA is unfounded.
Quotes about fema (16 Quotes)
FEMA has a substantial challenge in balancing the need to get the money out quickly to those who are actually in need and sustaining public confidence in disaster programs by taking all possible steps to minimize fraud and abuse.
Due to computer problems with the online application, we inadvertently had duplicate applications. Because of this we have received nothing and even though we have repeatedly spoken to the FEMA helpline, there is no answer as to when it will get resolved.
The other thing about FEMA, my understanding is that it was supposed to move into the Department of Homeland Security... and be what it was, but also having a lot of lateral communication with all those others involved in that issue of homeland security.
Over half a billion dollars a day is being spent by FEMA.
Someone in the administration said that we don't want FEMA having to look over its shoulder all the time to see when the money comes, ... My reply is I absolutely want FEMA looking over its shoulder and worrying that we're back here checking up on it, to make sure it's doing its job.
Prior to working as the head of FEMA, I was in charge of horse shows. I know that if you leave alcohol around large, warm-blooded mammals, the results are never pretty. We had to move quickly.
When Hurricane Katrina hit, they immediately began calling everyone on their roster. FEMA entered into an agreement with the International Fire Chief Association and were requesting teams of two firefighters to be sent to the devastated areas. Greg Hershey and I were both on the roster.
FEMA lost their expertise, their ability to help local governments.
I have noticed a marked improvement in FEMA and with the coordination of FEMA and the State agencies.
Part of the redesign of FEMA is that they have so many people on standby, whether it is a retired nurse or a doctor who will take time off to go exactly where they are needed.
Air reconaissance will give all of us some sense of what the needs are -- whether it's medical assistance, damage assessments, debris removal -- FEMA has the ability to assist with all that,
I talked to General Downer about some of the funding about the National Guard and some of the civil defense workers, the firefighters, the police officers, and the way that FEMA is making them spend that money. We have got a problem there.
All those same services will still be available by phone. People can call the FEMA help line, go to the agency's Web site or contact the U. S. Small Business Administration for help with their applications.
Our volunteer fire departments know their needs better than Washington, D.C. They need more flexibility on spending grant money from FEMA and Homeland Security.
These guys kind of have a deer-in-the headlights look they haven't been through this kind of thing and it shows. I'm afraid FEMA has gone backwards in time to the old era of a more traditional campaign-loyalty position.