[Howlin]

Do you think it's FEMA's responsibility to provide shelter to every person who left because of Katrina wherever they might go?

I mean, if they drive to Ohio, are we to shelter them?

[Smogger]

Hell they designated it an evacuation center. Am I missing something?

[76834]

I mean, if they drive to Ohio, are we to shelter them?

A question I have asked myself numerous times.
A scenerio: If a city got nuked you can figure that folks in other cities will decide to GTFO. Grab the kids, wife and just go...
From my location that would be about a 3 hour drive from DFW and maybe 5 from the Houston area.
When they get here they will be out of money, out of gas and most likely out of hope.
Would try to help as many as possible but know I would be overrun soon....
You asked the question so what would you do??

[GOPrincess]

"I mean, if they drive to Ohio, are we to shelter them?"

No, I don't think it's FEMA's responsibility to shelter refugees everywhere (although I certainly hope private entities and charities would step up to the plate where needed) -- but this, to me, seemed senseless. Here was a person who was at a place actually *set up* to handle refugees, but because he'd been relatively responsible and left New Orleans on his own, he was being turned away, while those who had stayed in New Orleans were being accommodated.

I also question the fact that after the Astrodome was named as the next step in the evacuation plan, this problem (refugees showing up on their own) should have been anticipated and addressed. In this age of computers, etc., surely someone could have printed up sheets of shelter names and addresses (that were actually taking people in) and passed them out, or *something*?

JMHO.