Free Republic

Hurricane Sandy hadn't even touched down when liberals started blowing kisses to FEMA, or Federal Emergency Management Agency, the federal disaster relief agency. A New York Times editorial declared that the impending storm proved that the country needs FEMA-style "Big Government" solutions more than ever. Salon, New Republic and other liberal outfits heartily agreed. Why do liberals love FEMA so much? Certainly not for its glorious track record. Rather, FEMA has been a great vehicle for expanding the welfare state. FEMA's tragic missteps after Katrina earned it well-deserved disgrace. The Times blames those on the Bush administration, whose anti-government philosophy...

About 75 North Carolina Baptist Men (NCBM) volunteers are now on site assisting with response efforts after Hurricane Sandy. All three NCBM feeding units are serving in the New Jersey/New York area. The three large feeding units have a combined capacity of 80,000 meals per day. Recovery, administration and chaplaincy volunteers are also on site. The Command Unit, along with large shower units, laundry units, generator units and recovery units, are on the ground and ministering. Recovery teams are already working in some areas and others will be organized as reports come back from assessment teams. With the recovery phase...

Two Texas Republicans joined the Democratic contingent tonight in shooting down a government spending measure in the House that would have funded the government through mid-November. The bill also included $3.6 billion in federal emergency aid for ravaged areas around the U.S., including the 52 Texas counties President Obama declared as disaster areas recently. The measure was an interim solution that would have taken effect Sept. 30 after the current funding bill, which was passed in April, expires. At issue was the additional billions in emergency funding, which Sen. Harry Reid attached to the Senate version of the bill before...

I have been to Haiti, once. It was in 1972. I remember it vividly. The sad thing is that Haiti has not changed materially since then. As a result of that continuing history of human failure, people are dying in the tens of thousands from easily avoidable consequences of the earthquake that centered on Port au Prince last week. Haiti’s successful revolution to gain its freedom from being a colony of France, was only a few years after our own Revolution against England. But since then, Haiti has had a constant series of governments composed of thieves, torturers, murderers. When...

United Nations peacekeepers warned today that Haiti’s capital could quickly descend into rioting if three million hungry, thirsty and traumatised quake survivors were forced to go longer without emergency aid. The warning came as aid agencies battled to deliver tonnes of aid to Haiti’s capital in spite of blocked roads, a clogged airport and shattered ports. Looters have emptied food shops and scuffles broken out among survivors fighting over scarce water as the wait for help drags on. Brazil’s Defence Minister, Nelson Jobim, warned that the Brazilian-led peacekeeping force could struggle to cope if desperation spilled into violence. “We are...

U.S. officials are laying out a massive military response to the Haiti earthquake, saying that ships, helicopters, transport planes and a 2,000-member Marine unit are either on the way or likely to begin moving soon. Gen. Douglas Fraser, head of U.S. Southern Command, said Wednesday that one of the U.S. Navy's large amphibious ships will likely head to Haiti with a Marine expeditionary unit aboard. Fraser said other U.S. military forces are on alert, including a brigade, which includes about 3,500 troops. Fraser said during a news conference with other U.S. officials that the Pentagon is "seriously looking at" sending...

Salvation Army Mobilizing Personnel, Resources to Aid with Haiti Relief Army school, clinic damaged; staff on-site organizing emergency response Alexandria, VA (January 13, 2010) - The Salvation Army is mobilizing resources and personnel to assist with the international relief effort in Haiti following a severe earthquake Tuesday that damaged much of the country's infrastructure, housing and commercial buildings.The Salvation Army has had a presence in Haiti since 1950 and currently operates schools, clinics, a hospital, feeding programs, children's homes and church-related activities spread across two major facilities in Port au Prince, close to the epicenter of the earthquake and...

Flooding Disaster Assistance Available for Disabled VetsSnohomish CountyRelease Date and Time: 01-20-2009 01:55:00 PM       As a result of recent flooding in Western Washington and record snowfall in Eastern Washington, the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) is extending applications for grants under our nationally recognized Disaster Relief program.   The DAV Disaster Relief grants may be issued for the purpose of providing; food, clothing, and temporary shelter or to obtain relief from injury, illness or personal loss resulting from natural/national disasters that are not covered by insurance or other disaster relief agencies.    To be eligible for a...

SACRAMENTO, Nov. 18, 2008 – For California National Guardsmen, the annual fire season has rendered moot the question of whether natural disasters will strike the state. No longer do they ask “if,” but only “when” and “where.” Maj. Gen. Vasyl Kvashuk, director of the Ukrainian army's civil protection department, addresses key leaders at the California National Guard’s joint force headquarters in Sacramento, Calif., Nov. 12, 2008. Kvashuk led a Ukrainian team that was in California to participate in Vigilant Guard '09, the National Guard's weeklong disaster-response exercise. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Dave Loeffler  (Click photo for screen-resolution...

All, Mission To The World, the PCA's international ministry, has issued an appeal for funds to aid in the relief of Myanmar cyclone victims. I know that most of us have heard stories about countries and large relief agencies having their hands tied, but God will provide a way for His church to break through manmade barriers. _________________________________________________________________ Horrifying and harrowing stories are emerging in the aftermath of the catastrophic tropical cyclone that devastated much of already poverty-striken Myanmar. Reuters News is reporting as many as one million people left homeless. No one really knows how high the death toll...

I’m grateful to an article in the National Post on Friday, 28 March, by Colby Cost for bringing this item to my attention. It is about Wal-Mart, but has nothing to do with the legendary business model of that company. Or, does it? As the article recites, shortly before Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans on 29 August 2005, Lee Scott, CEO of Wal-Mart, send a memorandum to all the regional and store managers in the region about to be hit. His message said: “A lot of you are going to have to make decisions above your level. Make the best...

China races to deliver power, food before snowfalls (Xinhua)Updated: 2008-02-09 10:31 BEIJING - Chinese people are enjoying the week-long holiday ushering in an auspicious Year of the Mouse, as the government races to repair electricity grids and deliver food, blankets and other supplies to areas hit by the worst snowstorms in more than 50 years.Weather forecasters say new downfalls are to hit the south next week. Electricians inspect power transformers in Guiyang, Southwest China's Guizhou Province, during the Lunar New Year holiday on February 8, 2008. China raced to repair electricity grids and deliver food, blankets to areas hit by the worst snowstorms in 50 years as new downfalls are forecast to...

At this writing, the fires were still raging in southern California, but already LCMS World Relief and Human Care had sent $50,000 to the Synod's Pacific Southwest District to help those who have been evacuated from -- or lost -- their homes in the disaster. The emergency grant was sent Oct. 24 to the district office in Irvine, Calif., north of San Diego, Escondido, and other cities threatened by more than a dozen wildfires. The money will be distributed among LCMS congregations that have been providing shelter and spiritual care to scores of displaced people. In cooperation with the city...

E-mail Author Author Archive Send to a Friend Version September 30, 2005, 8:04 a.m. God vs. War Don't militarize disaster relief. Nobody looked good during the Katrina response, except the U.S. military. In keeping with Washington’s habit of always fixing yesterday’s problem in ways that might cause trouble tomorrow, the military’s star performance in Katrina means that it might get the lead role in any significant natural disaster in the future. Democrats have long clamored for more “first responders.” Well, now they are about to get 1.4 million of them. President Bush has said that the lesson from Katrina...

Things I have noticed while watching media coverage of the recent hurricanes. 1. Texas: Productive industrious state run by Republicans. Louisiana: Government dependent welfare state run by Democrats. 2. Texas: Residents take responsibility to protect and evacuate themselves. Louisiana: Residents wait for government to protect and evacuate them. 3. Texas: Local and state officials take responsibility for protecting their citizens and property. Louisiana: Local and state officials blame federal government for not protecting their citizens and property. 4. Texas: Command and control remains in place to preserve order. Louisiana: Command and control collapses allowing lawlessness. 5. Texas: Law enforcement officers...

Facing criticism that he appeared disengaged from the disaster wrought by Hurricane Katrina, President Bush has been looking for opportunities to show his concern. But the White House will take the effort a step further Tuesday, venturing into untested waters by putting the nation's first lady on reality television. Laura Bush will travel to storm-damaged Biloxi, Miss., to film a spot on the feel-good, wish-granting hit "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." Mrs. Bush sought to be on the program because she shares the "same principles" that the producers hold, her press secretary said. It's not clear exactly what Mrs. Bush will...

September 10, 2005 Berkeley, California The hurricane disaster was just awful and I felt like I had to help. I spent last Friday packing a box with emergency goods for the Red Cross. I included some packs of raspberry kelp tea, a pair of sandals, some rice cakes, a macramé hanging candleholder, some incense, and a couple of Grateful Dead albums. Knowing I was helping someone start a new life made my spirits soar! On television I saw storm victims being transported to a local gymnasium and I felt moved to open my home to one of these poor people....

LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (Sept. 22, 2005) -- Texas Air National Guard personnel returning home from Hurricane Katrina duty had just enough time to catch up on sleep before receiving the order to repack their bags. Now they are preparing to deal with the aftermath of another hurricane – Rita – this time on the Texas coast. Members of the 149th Fighter Wing, based on Lackland, will be part of a package of 400 personnel and equipment, named Task Force Seguin, which is part of the 1,750-member Joint Task Force Texas, formed after Gov. Rick Perry directed Texas Military...

149th Fighter Wing security forces return from Louisiana LACKLAND AFB, Texas (Sept. 15, 2005) – Forty-seven security forces personnel from the 149th Fighter Wing returned Sept. 13 from Louisiana after providing security and evacuation assistance to New Orleans residents during the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The group arrived at Kelly Field via C-130 aircraft and was taken to the 149th Fighter Wing for health assessments before leaving for home and much-needed showers and sleep. The security team left from San Antonio Aug. 31, commanded by Lt. Col. Scott Elliott of the 204th Security Forces Squadron, and included Air Guard...

In remarks Tuesday on Hurricane Katrina, President Bush spoke of "serious problems in our response capability" and questioned whether the United States can handle another major storm or a terrorist attack. "To the extent that the federal government didn't fully do its job right, I take responsibility," the president asserted. Well said: These are steps along the higher road and are to be applauded. But the country needs Mr. Bush to follow up with real policy changes in order to ensure recovery. It needs more than first responders, too: The president must reassess the full gamut of our vulnerabilities, from...