AP IMPACT: FEMA asks for return of disaster aid (We're here to help.)

Associated Press ^ | May 10, 2011 | RYAN J. FOLEY

[decimon]

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – After the raging Cedar River filled his home with 13 feet of water and ruined most of his possessions, Justin Van Fleet pleaded for help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to get back on his feet.

Dead broke and living in a FEMA trailer following the 2008 flood, Van Fleet repeatedly submitted paperwork and made countless phone calls arguing his case. After seven months, the agency finally gave him more than $20,000, which he said gave him his life back and allowed him to move into a house.

Then in March, a letter arrived from the government with a shocking message: He should never have gotten the money. And he had just 30 days to pay it all back.

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Documents obtained by The Associated Press show that FEMA is seeking payments from more than 5,500 people who were affected by 129 separate disasters since 2005, including floods, tornados, hurricanes and other calamities from Arkansas to American Samoa. The agency is still reviewing records, and more repayment requests could go out soon, including to victims of Hurricane Katrina.

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[BornToBeAmerican]

Been there done that. There are a lot of things that can happen to a man that will bring the best laid plans and dreams crashing to the ground.

You do seem callous because your words gave no hint whatsoever to what may have caused this guy to be in this position.

I am sure that was not what your intent was

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

My intent was to say that our society has been conditioned to expect government to take care of us. We have had disaster after disaster and it appears that government runs to take care of people to where they now expect it and do not prepare for themselves.

This is why we are going broke. I am sorry for those in these situations but we cannot expect government to pick up the pieces and to restore us.

[BornToBeAmerican]

I agree totally, it should not be the role of the Government to bail out each and every citizen. My point was, even the best safety net can fail. This pResident has made sure of that.