FEMA denies aid to Texas for West blast

WFAA ^ | 6/12/2013 | Associated Press

[JennysCool]

WEST, TEXAS — The Federal Emergency Management Agency is refusing to provide money to help rebuild the small Texas town where a deadly fertilizer plant explosion leveled numerous homes and a school, and killed 15 people.

According to a letter obtained by The Associated Press, FEMA said it reviewed the state's appeal to help West but decided that the explosion "is not of the severity and magnitude that warrants a major disaster declaration."

The blast killed 10 first responders and brought national attention to the agricultural community. President Barack Obama traveled to the area to attend a memorial service for the first responders and others who died trying to help.

[5thGenTexan]

So much for the Democrat line of “for the children’. $40M of the $54M requested was to rebuilt a leveled school.

[nascarnation]

Does the local govt insure public school buildings in Texas?

[Buckeye McFrog]

Gotta spend that money in New Jersey to finish flipping Chris Christie into the Democrat Party.

[JennysCool]

Ha! Yup!

[ThomasMore]

He promised them the nation will help them rebuild and reclaim their small community of about 3,000 people.

He's an effin liar. Should we expect anything less from him or his accomplices?

[Conscience of a Conservative]

Just a point of clarification - FEMA denied aid to the state & local governments, but they are providing assistance to individuals/etc. who were affected by the blast.

This may actually be for the best, anyway. Texas is in pretty good fiscal shape (compared to other states), and is more than capable of paying for its own repairs (whether through insurance payouts, the rainy day fund, or elsewhere). Let ‘em pay their own way, and not have to deal with the inevitable strings that come attached to Federal money.

[Conserev1]

Sorry, guys I have to enter some defense here. This was a private business and was not a natural disaster! It was also said they had more stock of product than allowed. This is strictly business and the business’s insurance is on the line here. This is not a Government issue.

[txmissy]

Agreed.

And FEMA sucks anyway. And those people in West, Tx will be just fine. I’m sure of it.

[iopscusa]

Regarding the BM bombing you might read this little item from the local Boston media, “Police response training planned, but bombs hit first”, http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/06/07/before-police-could-plan-for-terrorist-attack-real-thing-happened/ufxjb9O0RXyzVZNPFyGkiI/story.html
Evidently just as happened with the 911, London and Sandy Hook terror episodes the authorities were running a terror-attack training program at the same time the ‘real’ attack happened, oops but you saw it all on TV so it must be real right?

[stanne]

Oh, I know.

I would just like to see these guys get 500 mil of taxpayer money and not abortion providers or no one at all.

[Night Hides Not]

I think it would have helped if the following excerpt had been posted:

Last week, FEMA reported the agency, along with the state and Small Business Administration, approved $6.5 million in grants and loans since the exposion.

The disaster-assistance money has gone to eligible individuals and families in McLennan County. FEMA also says the 764 applicants who've registered so far will be receiving follow-up phone calls to help identify any pending needs.

The headline was an eye-catcher, but misleading.

[Irenic]

Can’t we here in Texas take care of Texans? Fund raisers and such?

[Uncle Miltie]

Remember what Valerie Jarrett said, “We will reward our friends and punish our enemies.”

[machman]

This is OK, I remember when FEMA and 0bama helped out Texas last year when they had all those fires out west.........

Oh wait.....

[popdonnelly]

I hope the people of Texas remember how kindly they were treated by this corrupt Administration.

[5thGenTexan]

Each ISD runs independently in Texas. They have their own budgets and capital plans, etc, but do have State and Federal ties obviously. But, the local ISD does have control on where their budget dollars go, including things like insurance.

And you would think the plant had to have some form of insurance, too.

[vetvetdoug]

I wonder how Obama would have wanted it had the injured, displaced and killed people in West had been black? If the colours were to be reversed would the decision be called racist?

[TexasCajun]

Not the first time Obama denied a "Disaster Declaration" & FEMA funds to a red state.

No surprise here. ..but hey, the jack-ass got his photo-op.

T

[informavoracious]

Sorry, but I have to ask. Why the heck does it take even $40 MILLION to rebuild a school?

[EBH]

My first reactions was surprise... my second thought was much along the same lines. Cities and states need to stop standing in line with their hands-out, if we're going to exercise our liberties long-term.