Hurricane Money Wrapped in Red Tape

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By Tiffany Craig Special Assignment Reporter

M60o93H7pQ09L8X1t49cHY01Z5j4TT91fGfr Hurricane Money Wrapped in Red Tape

Published: Thu, October 04, 2007 - 6:22 pm
Last Updated: Thursday, October 04, 2007 - 6:31 pm

Tiffany Craig

Just a small piece of 18 million dollars would help the Lee family build another home. Faye Lee cries as she talks about how hard it's been. "I think you know on down the road, we might have a house here one day. But then I think, why get your hopes up to get knocked back down. So, I give up. I'm just that close. It gets harder and harder."

More than 11-hundred people in Mobile County applied for help to rebuild. A low-income help group called Alabama Arise showed up to get some answers at Government Plaza. Zack Carter says the 18 million needs to spent. "There's something wrong with that. Money that's allocated a year ago and has not been released that will only serve about less than ten percent that those who applied." County Commissioners say with all the regulations they have to meet to give out the money, their hands are tied. "You've got to dot your i's and cross your t's and make sure it's in compliance. If not, we are directly responsible for it as commissioners to make sure we spend it and there's a lot of duplication!" So, every single application goes under the microscope, and the clock keeps ticking. Annette McGrady is doing the county's grant administration work. "What we have to determine is was that need created by Hurricane Katrina or was the need just there."

So, the Lee family waits in their Coden FEMA trailer. They hope the meetings and the money aren't tied up forever.

Work has started to help the first handful of families that applied and qualified. Families in FEMA trailers with elderly, minors or disabled people get priority. In the meantime, the county is now asking the federal government for more money and for help to figure out who gets what.

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Someone needs to get the Governor involved. I agree, this is ridiculous.

Posted by Lindie on 10/04/07 - 9:03 pm • Report Abuse

This is bull. I applied back in January for the grant. I am still waiting for an answer. I know there are people in worse shape then i am but what i dont get is why none of us have heard anything. When you call the lawyers office that is suppose to be handling all this they say they are still going through applications. which if they are still doing that they need to get more help. It is almost been a year. This is bull and i am sick of it. them lawyers or what ever they are calling them selves is fatting thier pockets with the interrest the money is gaining. So why dont everyone call the office start complaining. 18 million dollars can help the 1600 people that applied for help. I need help just as badly as everyone else. I have 4 girls and 2 has asthma. But they say we have to help others before you. I am Sorry but i think this money should only help the people in lower mobile county. It should be only south west mobile county. This is getting stupid to have to wait for money and let it just sit there cause some people are to lazy to get off there ass and do there jobs.

Posted by kjjmbf on 10/04/07 - 8:02 pm • Report Abuse