Evacuees Line Up For Debit Cards In Houston

kwtx ^

[NormB]

Hundreds of survivors of Hurricane Katrina lined up Thursday outside the Reliant Center in Houston in hopes of getting $2,000 government debit cards, but there's confusion about who can get the cards and when.

[texgal]

They have estimated that as of this week there may still be as many as 10,000 people still in NO not wanting to leave. They begin mandatory evacuations as soon as the governer of Louisiana gives the National Guard the authority (in other words declares a state of emergency) for martial law to be implemented at the state level. Nebraska may still have an opportunity yet!

[texgal]

It's my understanding that the folks who evacuated early and are staying with family or in other smaller shelters can get the cards starting on Saturday afternoon. There is also a Red Cross card with up to $1,500 cash per family for the people who don't qualify for the FEMA cards.

[Toespi]

Think how simple this would have been: "There is a category 4/5 hurricane coming, evacuation orders are in place, take this route and you will recieve a $2000.00 debit card."

[The Red Zone]

Man. There would be nobody in New Orleans.

[rollo tomasi]

"But, I will thank the President for his effort."

No, you need to first start in hurricane ravaged Florida and thank every single tax payer there then move on up to Georgia etc...

It is easy to sign spending bills with other people's hard earned money.

[texgal]

Not sure how easy it would be to forge a wristband, but would you penalize the many for the possible wrong acts of a few? It's been discussed here in Houston and there is the real possibility that a few bad people could make a mess of what is a good intention. It will be easy to see who has the intention to move on and move forward with their lives and who will end up trying to take advantage of an act of charity.

[Toespi]

Yup, they would have gotten the results they were looking for.

[shezza]

but $2000 seems like a lot at one time

I know of a crackhead who received a $20,000 lump-sum payout from his mother's life insurance. Every penny was gone in less than a week. Every single penny.

[IronMan04]

And we have rebuilt Florida how many times?

[rollo tomasi]

And how many tax payer's monies from all 50 States have gone towards your relief, not just Florida. By the way, my insurance claim paid for my damage (Heavy deductible) and my bank account paid for food, clothes, water etc..., not the Feds.

Maybe you need to read a little more into my comments, the United States federal government was not designed as a meals on wheels program, sorry.