FEMA got in touch with me this week to tell me that they were cutting off my housing assistance, which I never applied for and never received. They didn't get in touch with me to deal with any actual assistance; I've still never seen a FEMA employee, not even though I spent weeks doing rescue operations during the hurricane.
I'm not mad about it, though. We're better off without the government. I'll be happy to see the back of it. I feel bad for those people who've put their hopes in it to help them, protect them, or make their lives in any way better. Things are going to get better here, a little bit at a time. California isn't going to get any better because they remain enthralled by the idea that these evils are goods.
10 comments:
Standby for the dun from FEMA to repay that housing assistance. You shouldn't have gotten it since you didn't apply for it.
The fact that you also never got it is neither here nor there.
Eric Hines
I would like to see the incoming Administration set a policy that whatever California/Los Angeles gets, North Carolina gets (and possibly Georgia and maybe even Maui). I understand the argument that y'all are better off without government "help" but if my tax dollars are going to Los Angeles they should also be going to other areas that have been hard-hit. Everybody or nobody. The tricky part is going to be getting the money to the people who have suffered loss rather than to the local and State governments and/or the NGOs.
Somewhat related: Are there any organizations providing assistance in North Carolina post-Helene to which I can donate?
To clarify: local orgs, larger orgs, churches, whoever is actually helping.
At this point we are doing everything through local churches. I could ask around to see who is taking donations right now. Before Christmas there we’re several projects for the worst-affected areas including Asheville and Old Fort.
Well, as a local, let me tell you that by and large the people in the Palisades will be fine. It's the Alta Dena folks affected by the Eaton fire I'm worried about. It's a solid middle to lower-middle class neighborhood largely (some higher end stuff further up the hill), and a lot of those people are going to turn out to be un or under insured because of California's insane regulatory and forestry management policies. And seeing the damage maps and video of places I know pretty well, it's *BAD*. Areas I wouldn't in a hundred years have thought were vulnerable just laid waste. It's gonna be a long road out, but I fear that for many of the more wealthy, they'll leave because they can, and for many of the less wealthy, they'll be forced to leave because they can't afford to stay.
Footnote- The remodel job we held as our crown jewel of design is up in smoke (we no longer knew the occupants/owners), and at least one client of ours has lost their house- we'll see what we can do to help them with provision of drawings etc. Both of these in Palisades. I fear finding out about more people I've lost touch with over the years in Alta Dena. Everyone in the city is going to know someone first or second hand that has lost their house, it feels like. I know one family whose sons went to Pali High, and they must know dozens of people affected. It's surreal.
Grim, if there are churches that could use help please do post that info. Thanks.
OK, I'll ask around. I'm also going to be out in Asheville/Swannanoa on Friday and Saturday, so I'll drop by the Harley dealer that was being used for helicopter operations and see who they're working with now.
Thanks, Grim - I'll check back next week.
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