Copyright © October 7, 2005 - Howard E. Johnson - Leesburg, Indiana - (hjdisrelief5B12 HTML)

Disaster Relief - A new way to disperse funds.

This is but an outline of a program that the author conceived of after the Katrina disaster and plans to fledge out into a full scale lecture.

Problem: The governments of Louisiana and of New Orleans are asking for the unprecedented amount of $268 billion to rebuild after hurricanes Katrina and Rita. This could set a very expensive precedent which, I’m sure, all other states will try to follow with all kinds and sizes of disasters. Can anyone imagine the efficacy of turning that much over to a corrupt state government with absolutely no strings, for that is what they ask.

Here’s a better idea that could be used as a model for disaster relief throughout the country: Take the final estimate figure from the state and divide it in half. Take the total amount of insurance payments being made to property owners and subtract that amount from the first figure giving a net cost. Take the remaining net cost and divide it by four. That amount is what the state government must contribute. For every dollar the state contributes, the national government will contribute three up to the full amount of the net figure.

Here’s how the money will be distributed: Half of the entire sum will be divided evenly between all of the registered voters in all areas designated as total disaster areas. In areas of less than total devastation the amounts will be lowered to reflect the actual percentage of damage. This will be done on an individual property owner basis. The money will be distributed in the form of debit cards to those deserving compensation. These debit cards may only be used to purchase food, clothing, utilities, and replacements for items, structures and building materials. Labor for any repairs and building will have to go to licensed builders and contractors and only for work not covered by insurance.

The other half of the funds will be designated for rebuilding and replacing infrastructure actually destroyed or damaged by the storms. No new construction is to be payed for out of these funds. FEMA will administer all federal funds and payments with the approval of the proper state, county and city government agencies. Accurate records of the dispersal of all funds will be kept and made available as public records.

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