Thursday, September 08, 2005
FEMA reneges on debit cards
It was widely reported today that FEMA would provide a $2,000 debit card to provide relief to Katrina survivors, but later backed down and said the cards would only be provided to those sheltered at the Astrodome.
Elsewhere, people will have to wait for the $2,000 in "expedited assistance" from FEMA to arrive in paper checks or direct deposits into bank accounts, according to David Passey, spokesman for FEMA.
From survivors I am in communication with, FEMA is asking for the "home address" of survivors, indicating that all correspondence about disater aid will be directed there.
This could significantly delay any assistance for survivors, hundreds of thousands of whom will be without a reliable new mailing address for weeks or months.
Elsewhere, people will have to wait for the $2,000 in "expedited assistance" from FEMA to arrive in paper checks or direct deposits into bank accounts, according to David Passey, spokesman for FEMA.
From survivors I am in communication with, FEMA is asking for the "home address" of survivors, indicating that all correspondence about disater aid will be directed there.
This could significantly delay any assistance for survivors, hundreds of thousands of whom will be without a reliable new mailing address for weeks or months.
"And when we speak we are afraid our words will not be heard nor welcome, but when we are silent we are still afraid. So it is better to speak remembering we were never meant to survive." -- Audie Lorde
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