Last week I wrote that the storm could have been much worse for Georgia. I regret saying that. While it’s true statistically, this is the last thing someone wants to hear who is sleeping on a cot in a temporary shelter or waiting for their electricity to be restored. It’s no relief whatsoever for anyone who has emptied their refrigerator and fed much of the thawed contents of the freezer to the dog because it’s unsafe for humans and no dog food is available. It doesn’t help someone who can’t repair or replace their home because that home was uninsured due to their inability to afford the premiums. This is the situation right now in many parts of south and east Georgia.
In North Carolina, there are still over 600 people missing, and by now we have all seen the pictures and videos of the results of a 1000-year flood, an event that has a .1% chance of occurring in any given year.
This morning I saw a meme that brought the relief of a smile. The image depicts a group of 4-wheel-drive trucks and ATVs crossing a flooded road, and the caption reads, “In almost any emergency situation, but especially natural disasters, one redneck friend or neighbor is worth a thousand PhDs.”
If you’re offended by the humor, it might be because you’re too many years away from the squad bay or the shop to remember that coping humor and survivor humor can be an essential part of dealing with the stress and emotions of a disaster. It doesn’t threaten you because it’s not meant for you, and rather than dismissing the plight of those who are still suffering, it embraces that suffering.
It also suggests an uncomfortable truth that many thousands of people are now facing: Expect little help from the bureaucracy. Yes, there is a federal response, and those boots on the ground are to be admired and appreciated as much as any volunteer for the risk and discomfort involved in disaster mitigation. But the overwhelming response has been grassroots and homegrown: state and local governments, individual businesses and store managers, churches, volunteer fire departments, power companies, police departments, hospitals, friends, and neighbors – and thousands of people many miles away organizing to send food and supplies to stricken areas.
FEMA has announced that it lacks funding to see it through the remainder of the hurricane season. Inquiring minds are curious. FEMA has spent about $10 billion on disaster relief so far this year. Last year they spent over $18 billion for the entire year. While there are no estimates so far for the amount needed for Helene, their budget for natural disasters this year was $20.1 billion, which means they expect to need more than $10 billion for the remaining 3 months of the year.
FEMA spent $650 million so far this year (and over $1 billion in the last two years) on undocumented immigrants. The US has spent over $175 billion on the war in Ukraine. Considering that an uncounted number of taxpaying American citizens will need some form of assistance in the wake of Helene, not to mention the ongoing national disgrace of over 35,000 homeless veterans, 37 million American citizens living below the poverty line, and 13 million children living with food insecurity, it seems a fair question to ask Washington, “What are your priorities?”
Currently victims of Helene are eligible for a one-time payment of $750. All you have to do to receive this payment is:
- Register with FEMA: Visit the FEMA website or call the FEMA helpline to register for disaster assistance. You can also use the FEMA mobile app.
- Provide Necessary Information: Be prepared to provide details such as your Social Security number, address of the damaged property, a description of the damage, insurance information, and a contact number.
- Complete the Application: Fill out the application form with all required information. Make sure to double-check for accuracy.
- Submit Supporting Documents: You may need to submit documents such as proof of identity, proof of ownership or occupancy, and insurance documents.
- Follow Up: After submitting your application, keep an eye on your email or phone for any follow-up communication from FEMA. They may request additional information or documents.
Seems simple enough, but not so straight forward when you’re living in a shelter, your home and all your “proof of identity” documents were destroyed, you have no internet access, your bank is closed, and you have no transportation.
FEMA can eventually provide up to $37,900 for housing assistance and an additional $37,900 for other needs assistance, but it can take up to 30 days to process an application once the applicant is in a situation stable enough that they can apply. That’s a long time to wait when you’re living under a tarp.
Any attempt to mitigate human suffering, wherever it can be found, is laudable. However, it seems that the government has grown far too comfortable spending other people’s money and spending U.S. taxpayer dollars for causes that do not directly or even indirectly affect U.S. taxpayers. At a time when human suffering at home is widespread, $63.1 billion was allocated for foreign aid this year alone. We have $33.1 trillion in national debt and $157 trillion in unfunded liabilities.
It’s easy to be generous with other people’s money, but again, those people have every right to question the priorities involved in spreading that generosity and they can surely expect that this magnanimity is returned to the people who made it possible, at whatever time and to whatever degree it is needed.
Outside The Box 