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Just read that FEMA is now retracting it's promise to issue $2000 debit cards to all Katrina victims. Apparently they were never clear in the first place on who could actually receive these......and the ones that were issued were only in Texas. Does anyone wonder if this was just a ploy to motivate as many people as possible to get out of New Orleans???

I think the original motivation was to give people funds. Unfortunately, they have since found out it's very tough to regulate what it was intended for...immediate needs for survival. People have been reported for buying such things as nintendos and video games, etc, instead of food, water, clothing, etc. I don't know how they can regulate them and I'm sure some of them were sold at a lesser value for cash. IMO it was a nice gesture but a terrible idea.

Nah. There's no broadcasting in N.O. No communication. I think this is just another FEMA project that's fallen apart.

Broadcasting or communication in NO?

These cards are given to the people who have evacuated. They aren't in NO anymore.

Thus not for motivation to leave.

In Houston, they caught local residents sneaking into the line (que) to get the $2K debit cards.

Accountable wrote: In Houston, they caught local residents sneaking into the line (que) to get the $2K debit cards.
Oh, you know what....that's just totally fu*ked up. What sort of ******* would do something like that?? I mean, come ON, people, I could put 2 grand to some pretty good use right about now, but for the love of pete, will people do just ANYthing for money??? How do some people look at themselves in the morning??? I hope they take those residents that were caught and publicly humiliate them. Shame on them!! Friggin' losers. :yh_loser

Accountable wrote: Thus not for motivation to leave.


Ahhha! Now I understand, lol. No, it wasn't a motivation for them to leave. It was supposed to be an easier way to get money to people who needed it immediately upon arrival in Texas so they could get the provisions they needed.

I just saw on the news how they have found two different people using them to purchase $800.00 pocket books. The store owner said he wasn't, by law, allowed to deny them, but was only able to report them after they did the purchase. Supposedly Fema is then able to cancel the balance on the cards.

Hey, let's face it. FEMA did a sucky job in Florida last year, the whole thing was riddled with scandal. Why would anyone think it would be different this year?

I see what everyone's saying about FEMA retracting the cards due to the "unforeseen ways they would be used".................but I think that can NOT be why they stopped it. If it is.......are they IDIOTS???? What did they THINK was going to happen???? Pullllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeezzzzz!!!!

I checked. No more cards. They are mailing gov't checks instead. If you don't have an evacuee post box, you don't get money.