Schools damaged in Texas plant explosion to get $2.75 million from FEMA

[Galraedia]

Source: Raw Story

DALLAS, Texas (Reuters) – Schools damaged by a West, Texas, fertilizer plant explosion will receive $2.75 million in federal funds for temporary classrooms and administrative buildings, the government said Friday.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said the money cannot be used for permanent rebuilding by the cash-strapped school district, which is still fighting for resources after the April blast obliterated much of its property.

But the grant allows the town’s older students, who were sent to other districts after their schools were damaged, to resume classes back home while their schools are being rebuilt.

The April 17 explosion at the plant killed 14 people and wreaked havoc on surrounding areas. Local officials said costs are approaching $100 million for city and school repairs.

FEMA in June rejected a $40 million request for aid.

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/07/26/schools-damaged-in-texas-plant-explosion-to-get-2-75-million-from-fema/

[Garion_55]

1. perry is not going to refuse to take 'big government' money?

isnt this socialism? in texas? wtf?

[Quantess]

24. My first reaction, as well. (no text)

[IADEMO2004]

2. Freedom from red tape regulations isn't free

[Cooley Hurd]

3. Texas should foot the bill, since its deregulation was the cause...

This year, in Central NY, we've had historic flooding but, because NYS could afford to pay, FEMA turned its back on the victims.

[City Lights]

4. The owner of that plant should be bled dry (monetarily) and run out of town.

[Sherman A1]

10. Precisely

I would keep the plant owner in town so that he could spend his time making the repairs himself.

[no_hypocrisy]

17. + 1,000,000

[Scuba]

5. Tax dollars paying for plant owner's negligence? Is that the "invisible hand" they told me about?

[Jerry442]

6. As we all know, the invisible hand has a very visible finger sometimes. NT

[Jerry442]

7. Ultimately, I think giving the school money is better than not...

...but it sure ain't very satisfying.

[proud2BlibKansan]

8. That really isn't very much money

It won't go very far.

[valerief]

9. I thought in Texas "government aid is BAAAAAAD." I can't keep Texan values straight. nt

[W T F]

11. The fertilizer plant doesn't have to pay, and they stick it to the taxpayer?

[Brother Buzz]

14. The owner of the fertilizer plant had a whopping $1 million in liability insurance

In essence, the town of West got run over by an uninsured motorist.

[BlueManFan]

12. Another Gleaming Example of Governor Corrupt Dickhead's Hypocrisy

what a fucking tool. We'll see what happens when a hurricane strikes Texas and this asshole cries for FEMA money.

[vinny9698]

13. After this preventable tragedy, insurance companies are going to demand regulations or no insurance

Right now random drug testing is required by the insurance companies at refineries. Insurance companies are in it to make a profit and they are going to crack down on fertilizer plants. No insurance, no financing. They will demand that fertilizer plants have certain precautions or they won't cover them.

[lebkuchen]

15. I thought TX wasn't going to take money

It considers itself the "self-help" state, bartering in exchange for services--a chicken for a bag of nails, that sort of thing...

[Kelvin Mace]

16. Why the hell are we having to pay for this?

This bill belongs to the goddamned Texas tax payers, not the Federal government.

[NutmegYankee]

20. Because a civilized society helps their fellow countrymen in need

We (SE Conn.) got aid for March 2010 floods, Irene, the Oct 2011 snowstorm (massive power outages as trees still had leaves), and Sandy. When dams have burst (man made disaster), the Fed. gov has helped us recover.

The Governor and legislature majority of Texas may be complete assholes, but the people are still Americans in need.

[Kelvin Mace]

23. My question was rhetorical

illustrating that if we behaved as many Texas politicians would have us behave, they would be on their own.

I apologize for not making that clearer.

[eilen]

18. Seems to me that being that Texas is rolling in it with

all those great jobs and industries moving there at the urging of the Guv Perry, the Texan taxpayers should be taking it up for West. FEMA is supposed to be for disasters--not man-made negligence.

Hell, we can't get relief for the horrible flooding d/t the torrential rains in central NY state, a place of economic torpor.

[Doctor_J]

19. Let them secede instead

We would be far better off if the red states were cut off. Sort of like removing a gangrenous toe to save the patient. I seriously can't believe my tax dollars are being sent to a bunch of seditious republicans who will next week be bitching about food stamps.

[UpInArms]

21. privatize the profits and socialize the risks - eom

[lynne]

22. Where's the insurance coverage in this? eom