Obama Sends His Condolences and FEMA Director to Joplin

[R.Zaragoza]

Obama Sends His Condolences and FEMA Director to Joplin
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
By Susan Jones

(Editor’s note: According to the White House Web site, President and Mrs. Obama will take part in an arrival ceremony at Buckingham Palace Tuesday at 7:20 a.m. Washington time. They will then have lunch with Her Majesty the Queen. At the same time, the morning news shows in the U.S. will continue their live coverage of the devastation in Joplin, Mo., which could make for jarring side-by-side images of royal pomp in London and dreadful circumstance in Joplin.)

(CNSNews.com) - President Barack Obama, heading to London for a visit with the British royals, has sent his "deepest condolences" to the people in tornado-devastated Joplin, Mo.

He said he plans to visit the area on Sunday, the day after he returns from Europe, the Associated Press reported.

"I want everybody in Joplin, everybody in Missouri, everybody in Minnesota, everybody across the Midwest to know that we are here for you," the president said Tuesday in London, the second stop on his four-country, six-day tour of Europe


"The American people are by your side. We're going to stay there until every home is repaired, until every neighborhood is rebuilt, until every business is back on its feet."

In a statement posted on the White House Web site Monday, the president commended the "heroic efforts" of rescue workers and those who are working to help their friends and neighbors. "At my direction, FEMA is working with the affected areas' state and local officials to support response and recovery efforts, and the federal government stands ready to help our fellow Americans as needed," the statement said.

The White House Web site also features a photo of President Obama calling Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon from Dublin. The president "assured the governor that FEMA will remain in close contact and coordination with state and local officials," the Web site says.

Obama has directed FEMA Director Craig Fugate to go to Missouri to ensure that the state has "all the support it needs."

Also on Monday, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius declared a public health emergency for Missouri, allowing her to make sure that beneficiaries of the Medicare, Medicaid, and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), continue to receive services in the aftermath of the tornado.

“Our hearts go out to the people of Joplin and the surrounding communities affected by last night’s tornadoes,” said Secretary Sebelius. “We are working closely with our state partners and community organizations to provide the support needed to respond to this disaster and in the ongoing flood recovery in the region.”

The public health emergency, declared under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, allows HHS to waive or modify certain Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP requirements. If Missouri requests waivers, HHS will then allow health care facilities in the state to relax certain operating rules temporarily so health care services can be delivered.

For example, hospitals that are certified to receive cost-based reimbursement from Medicare will be allowed to take more than the statutorily mandated limit of 25 patients; and they will not have to count the expected longer lengths of stay for evacuated patients against the 96-hour

[Bill]

No doubt what happened was a tragedy. I am certainly all for using a few federal resources to clear the streets, restore government function, the mail, etc., but what I do not agree with is the federal government shoveling money at individuals.

There is already a system in place for people to be made whole for property loss and loss of life: insurance. Why does Uncle Sam insist on doling out my tax dollars to others just because they had a misfortune? I pay for insurance because I depend on no one but me to take care of myself. I expect others to do the same.

And for those who did not have insurance for whatever reason, there is always the private charity option. I am sure the Red Cross and other worthwhile organizations will have boots on the ground shortly to help those folks pick up the pieces of their lives.

As a taxpayer, I shouldn't be forced to contribute to the charity of others. That should be my option, and charity should be financed privately, not via a very inefficient government.

[ChasC5]

No doubt what happened was a tragedy. I am certainly all for using a few federal resources to clear the streets, restore government function, the mail, etc., but what I do not agree with is the federal government shoveling money at individuals.

There is already a system in place for people to be made whole for property loss and loss of life: insurance. Why does Uncle Sam insist on doling out my tax dollars to others just because they had a misfortune? I pay for insurance because I depend on no one but me to take care of myself. I expect others to do the same.

And for those who did not have insurance for whatever reason, there is always the private charity option. I am sure the Red Cross and other worthwhile organizations will have boots on the ground shortly to help those folks pick up the pieces of their lives.

As a taxpayer, I shouldn't be forced to contribute to the charity of others. That should be my option, and charity should be financed privately, not via a very inefficient government.

Simple:

Without INFRSTRUCTURE … nothing works.
As we’ve seen over the last couple years … without BUSINESSES … nobody works.

Sure, you’re personal insurance will rebuild your house … but somehow they need to get to it, power it, plum it, pipe Gas to it …………………

:leaving: BIG GOVERNMENT

[Bill]

Simple:

Without INFRSTRUCTURE … nothing works.
As we’ve seen over the last couple years … without BUSINESSES … nobody works.

Sure, you’re personal insurance will rebuild your house … but somehow they need to get to it, power it, plum it, pipe Gas to it …………………

:leaving: BIG GOVERNMENT

Our electric company, and our gas company, as well as most other businesses, including my mom-and-pop business all carry insurance coverage to rebuild should the worst happen. Many businesses even carry "business interuption" insurance.

You'll note that when a storm happens, most of the electric companies have reciprocal agreements with other power companies to send linemen, tree trimmers, etc., to get that damaged infrastructure back up. Those linemen and tree trimmers are getting paid, they aren't volunteers. And guess what? The company that calls them in for help is the one paying for them, generally via insurance money. No help from the government checkbook required.


A business owner who does not insure against risk is a pretty piss poor business owner to begin with, and probably won't be missed much if the business gets wiped out.

As stated, I am fine with using fed.gov resources to clear the streets, and to help the local govt. restore functions, including mail delivery, just not fine with the handing out of my taxpayer money to others because they experienced a tragedy.

[ChasC5]

Our electric company, and our gas company, as well as most other businesses, including my mom-and-pop business all carry insurance coverage to rebuild should the worst happen. Many businesses even carry "business interuption" insurance.

You'll note that when a storm happens, most of the electric companies have reciprocal agreements with other power companies to send linemen, tree trimmers, etc., to get that damaged infrastructure back up. Those linemen and tree trimmers are getting paid, they aren't volunteers. And guess what? The company that calls them in for help is the one paying for them, generally via insurance money. No help from the government checkbook required.


A business owner who does not insure against risk is a pretty piss poor business owner to begin with, and probably won't be missed much if the business gets wiped out.

As stated, I am fine with using fed.gov resources to clear the streets, and to help the local govt. restore functions, including mail delivery, just not fine with the handing out of my taxpayer money to others because they experienced a tragedy.

:iagree: I think we agree ... the Government is not there to help those who can help themselves. :yesnod: Just those who can't. :cheers: Not those who won't.

[Luetic]

obama hates white people!


where's my fema home? where's my fema atm card?

[LATB]

:iagree: I think we agree ... the Government is not there to help those who can help themselves. :yesnod: Just those who can't. :cheers: Not those who won't.

if the bold were only true.

[AC54ME]

....... just not fine with the handing out of my taxpayer money to others because they experienced a tragedy.

Bill,

Look up what it costs you, and every US taxpayer, to support Fed Flood Insurance.

BTW - ~$18 billion/year plus many billions more when a Katrina, Joplin occurs.

And this was a program started by the Fed since they ranted and raved the private Insurance Companies charged to much, and raised rated and made profits.

The Fed.gov also PROMISED (committee hearings and on the floor of both houses) rates would come DOWN if only the Fed.gov entered the market with alternative insurance.

Since the 1980's flood insurance rates, by and through the Fed.gov have risen more than 100%! This is a percentage increase NEVER seen with private flood insurance companies.

Cannot wait for ObamaCare - the same idiots that gave us an alternative to insurance companies for flood insurance.

[LATB]

the federal flood ins program is a fuggin joke.

flood panels (maps) and elevation certifications are inconsistent.

the whole system is bogus. I deal with this regularly as a home builder in Florida.

total fed government f-up. :yesnod:

[AC54ME]

the federal flood ins program is a fuggin joke.

flood panels (maps) and elevation certifications are inconsistent.

the whole system is bogus. I deal with this regularly as a home builder in Florida.

total fed government f-up. :yesnod:
What he said :iagree:

[LATB]

add to the mess...

LOMA (letter of map amendment)

LOMR (letter of map revision)

LOMR- F (letter of map revision - fill)

and you have a real mess.


I recently built a home right across the street from the beach...flood zone X (X = no minimum Finish Floor elevation required). The next door neighbor's property = flood zone AE-8 (8 foot minimum FF elevation). The ground = 9 foot. How TF can the feds require 8 floor minimum FF elevation on a lot that = 9 foot? Are these bureaucratic fools this dense?

Now, I'm building on the bay side...flood zone AE-7. BUT....so long as I build the FF at 7 foot...I can get FEMA flood ins. AND...if I fill the lot to 7 foot...I can get a LOMR-F. AND...I get a discount in rate for every foot I raise the FF elevation. btw, the county requires an additional foot of elevation above the fed level anyway.

The lot = 6.5 foot. So, I raise the lot 6 inches (only required to read 7 foot at the foundation...I can get into the preferred fed flood ins program. $350.00 for a quarter million in coverage, and 125K coverage for contents.

Confused?

welcome to my world.

[ChasC5]

obama hates white people!


where's my fema home? where's my fema atm card?

Use a .125 diameter penlight, bend over 180 degrees, cough and you should find it. :cheers:

[mrvette]

the federal flood ins program is a fuggin joke.

flood panels (maps) and elevation certifications are inconsistent.

the whole system is bogus. I deal with this regularly as a home builder in Florida.

total fed government f-up. :yesnod:

I must have looked at 50 houses, maybe more, when shopping in April '97, and every one of them had what looked like flat/lo/flood prone land, some even with a drainage ditch on the lot line, I looked at the water lines and other indicators of how it would be, finally got hell outta the Duvall Co/City of Jax....and here in Orange park found my house on the side of a hill....30' to the river at bottom of the hill in some bird sanctuary.....if Florida floods enough to get MY house, the whole damn state goes....

:hurray::seeya:

and you fools on the water, I have pictures of sunsets.....to watch as you watch the next hurry cain.......:dance::dance::lol: