Search and rescue, search and recovery, emergency housing, ships for fire and police, emergency food and water, emergency money for hundreds of thousands displaced ... and I could go on!
It's an EMERGENCY!! The whining here about the money spent for this and complaints that some money will be misspent or wasted is no better than the people who want to slash military procurement to the bone because they find a $600 toilet seat.
The relief bill in Congress passed 410-11. For some people, that means we have 411 socialists. Whatever. Stay ideologically pure during a disaster if it works for you. Fortunately, our President isn't that politically obtuse.
200 billion dollars. we spend 60 billion per year for the ENTIRE IRAQ WAR.