Hurricane Ike Recovery Response Essay Example

to receive a trailer were being forced out by FEMA in December 2009, three months prior to the deadline. Going against FEMA regulations workers began to threaten people, and even scare children in some cases reported.

One case reported was by a woman with 7 children. FEMA caseworkers frightened her children to the point of not wanting to go to school for fear they would come home to find the trailer and all their possessions gone. FEMA caseworkers arrived again three days later knocking on doors and windows. The frightened woman ran rying and hid in her bathroom while calling RISE (Recovery for Ike Survivors Enterprise) for help. Three caseworkers from RISE responded immediately and confronted FEMA caseworkers about the problem.

The end results was FEMA contributed $1,000 toward the purchase of the trailer and a local church provided the remaining $2,000. The caseworkers from RISE began sending emails to our State Senator, John Cornyn inquiring about the pressure/harassment tactics of FEMA. These complaints were taken seriously and our Senator was demanding an explanation from FEMA. A day later the deadline was extended until July 10, 2010 nd new caseworkers were being sent to the areas of people they had displaced to furnish them with apartments.

FEMA granted another extension July 7, 2010 until January 7, 2011 for people living in government trailers. The majority of recovery has come from non-profit organizations and new organizations formed by State and Local Governments. The City of Galveston formed a long-term recovery program ten weeks after Ike consisting of five focus areas, 13 work groups, and 42 project teams. RISE is a non-profit organization designed to help provide

support for people affected by Hurricane Ike. Rise is operated by Lutheran

Social Services Disaster Response in Austin, TX. The Galveston County Housing Assistance Program has recently received over 3300 applications with approximately 1700 being from the City of Galveston.

Two families have received a home from federal funding in Galveston County. Applications were put on hold July 16, 2010 due to requirement changes made by the federal government and the confusion between state and federal governments about the interpretation of rules. The original rules for eligibility depended on back taxes owed, amount of money received from FEMA, insurance companies, and their wealth and assets.

New rules include reporting any back child support owed, applicants at any time that have been approved for government small business loans, and proof they lived in their home before Hurricane Ike. Applicants are now being forced to change or submit new applications. The City of Galveston has been hit hard trying to obtain funding for repairs and replacement of roads, streets, and sewer system.

Concrete sewer pipes were installed during World War II. Saltwater filled storm sewers and sewer pipes that caused a mild sulfuric acid to form therefore eating away at the concrete pipes.

Another result of the saltwater is streets sinking and potholes forming. No funding is available for things that go wrong almost two years after a hurricane.

Galveston will suffer for years to come due to the 2010 Census. Population in Galveston has decreased from 57,000 to an estimated 46,000 since Hurricane Ike. People waiting to return to their homes will be counted in areas they are living, not where their residence actually is located.

Galveston will lose much needed federal funds for schools, hospitals, Job training centers, emergency services, public works