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Morning... Just returned from a long out of the country business trip...had to catch up with all of of you.. however, you are terrific keeping everyone up on the news.. connecting people and providing a platform for communication among our FRiends.. now let's look at all of the "white collar" response to the Wilma situation...
I have an in-law living in Palm Beach Gardens Florida.. last year a hurricane blew off several pieces of his garage roof.. he had FEMA folks come out to take a look and they gave him the full cost of his roof for complete replacement - he personally fixed the few shingles, pocketing the FEMA check... well.. it happened again...

Wilma blows through and now the SAME shingles left his home.. he is the first to connect with FEMA.. asking for another full roof replacement.. and guess what.. they have already assessed the damage and agreed to the full cost of yet another replacement... check is on its way...

Now this same inlaw just purchased a mobile travel home - cost? $125,000. - paid cash.. has owned his home for forty years, is an early retiree of a major aircraft firm with a $4,000 a month retirement check, plus his Social Security...

Last night he called to tell us that he has bottled water for the next six months, two cases of canned tomatoes, butter, cheese, and a check for $400. for groceries... all from FEMA...

I am SO disgusted.. I am not sure that I can actually face this man at Christmas dinner..

Frankly, I don't believe this is an isolated case.. millions of dollars are going down the drain - not just from poor people who are milking the system - but out and out thieves with the means to stand on their own..

There should be a huge FEMA overhaul.. extensive records (Check out the IRS, or Social Security they can spot a person in a New York minute.. no matter who..). and then trained outreach personnel that can use a hand computer on site... this is absolutely nutz!

Now for the rest of the story.. this same in-law told us in last night's conversation that he was taking his new Mobile to Miami (full expenses paid) to help with the Wilma Mop Up.. hired by.. you guessed it.. FEMA in DC... go figure!

Have to catch up with my desk.. thanks for caring so much for our FReepers.. my hat is off to you!

The Traveling Fritzy - still making my own living...

Amazing story..and welcome back!

A friend of mine went to the local flea market last week. One booth had several brand new, unused generators. My friend noticed it was the same brand his neighbor had been given by FEMA, mentioned it, and the booth owner smiled and said that's where ALL these generators came from also.

LAST year he knew a lot of people who'd gotten free generators from FEMA- so this year he told the same group to ask for more- and of course FEMA complied. Now he's given each of these people a little finder's fee and is off selling the generators at full list price at a flea market.

For what it is worth, I went to Home Depot and Lowe's in Brandon, Florida the day after Wilma to buy a chainsaw. All the high priced Stihl saws were gone, and I wondered why people buying a saw for hurricane use would want to spend $330 instead of $199 for a Poulan or Homelite.

And I am familiar with the advantages of high end german products like Mercedes and Stihl 300TDT Benz and a Stihl 070). But for short term use like a hurricane cleanup, the cost/benefit ratio isn't at all favorable for the Stihl.

Could it be that many people knew that FEMA would pay for the saw regardless of price?

Just wondering if this is another example of the waste we are seeing everywhere government moves in?