I would normally agree with you on this, but not now. These people DO need help, regardless of whether they were on welfare before the hurricane or not. There are plenty of people displaced by this hurricane that were not and have never been on welfare, and they too need help. You can only do so much for yourself when everything is gone and you have no way to leave.
This morning's comment from the NICC report, which is supplying personel and help for the relief effort:
HURRICANE KATRINA SUPPORT, Federal Emergency Management Agency. Emergency Support Function #4 is staffed at the Regional Response Coordination Centers in Atlanta, GA and Denton, TX. Four Type 1 Incident Management Teams (Custer, Quesinberry, Pincha-Tulley and Gelobter) are assigned. Custer’s Team is working to establish a base camp in Port Allen, LA. Quesinberry’s Team is establishing and managing a mobilization center in Meridian, MS. Pincha-Tulley’s Team will establish and manage two camps and support the receiving and distribution of relief supplies at Stennis Space Center in MS. Gelobter’s Team is assigned at Moss Point, MS. Another Type 1 Incident Management Teams (Cable) has been ordered. A Type 2 Incident Management Team (Lineback) is providing support for the receiving and distribution of supplies and resources at a mobilization center in Pineville, LA. A Planning Team (Terry) is supporting relief efforts at the Long Term Recovery Center in Orlando, FL.
Five Logistics Management Teams have been mobilized; two at Meridian, MS, and one each at Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, AL, Barksdale Air Force Base, LA and Beauregard, LA. A Florida State All Risk Incident Management Team (Hill) has been assigned to Biloxi, MS. The Team is providing logistical support to Florida Urban Search and Rescue teams. A Florida State Incident Management Team (Jones) has established a Logistics Staging Area at Stennis Space Center in MS. The Team is helping with distribution of relief supplies throughout southern Mississippi. A National Park Service All Risk Team has been ordered for Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve in New Orleans