FEMA Says No to Ice For Hurricane Survivors,Under New Policy FEMA Says Ice is Not Its Responsibility

[maddezmom]

Source: ABC

FEMA Says No to Ice For Hurricane Survivors
Under New Policy, FEMA Says Ice is Not Its Responsibility


Hurricane survivors are being put at risk in Texas and other hot weather states because the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is no longer providing ice in relief situations, say watchdogs, relief workers and local leaders in Hurricane Alley.

It's frustrating that the government can deliver $85 billion to bail out AIG, and they can't deliver ice in Texas," said Ben Smilowitz, executive director of the Disaster Accountability Project (DAP), a nonpartisan organization that monitors the nation's disaster response system.

In fact, while the federal government can deliver ice to disaster areas, it's chosen not to, under newly-revised FEMA rules. Instead, individual states and local governments are now tasked with purchasing, delivering and storing ice, even though they face tough logistical challenges in doing so, according to critics of the new policy.

~snip~

This isn't for their gin and tonics," said Elise Hough, CEO of the Houston chapter of United Cerebral Palsy, who says she encountered a lot of indifference when she started raising the issue of FEMA's ice policy last month. "This is for people who are extremely sensitive to heat, and ice has a huge impact on their health and safety."


Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=5828158&page=1

[Stellabella]

1. That's the repuke way. Break government, and then ...

claim it doesn't work.

[druidqueen]

37. Ice Capades

That's FEMA for you....during Katrina they sent several truckloads of ice to MAINE!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Solly Mack]

2. POS

[Imagevision]

85. Bush doesn't like people from Galveston...

[barbtries]

3. next thing they'll claim

that federal emergency management is not their responsibility

[superconnected]

48. You noticed! They're into internment facilities, not emergency aid

as people mistake their name for.

[sakabatou]

4. FEMA = FAIL

[EFerrari]

10. F 'Em All.

:grr:

[People4Change]

18. Obama campaign should send trucks with ice....

...to remind the people of Texas, that Bush apparently has abandoned, which candidate will serve the people if elected in November.

Bush created this monster, FEMA, which made a mess of the Katrina aftermath and is doing the same in Texas. Yet we hear nothing of this on the so called mainstream "new" stations.

Everyone should copy the above story and paste it to the NBC, CBS, ABC and FOX web site comments sections - eventually they will have to cover the disaster of FEMA in Texas.

[spinbaby]

23. That's a brilliant idea!

How quickly do you think that could be organized?

[BattyDem]

31. That's a fantastic idea!

:toast:

[truedelphi]

34. That is a terrific idea. n/t

[RaleighNCDUer]

46. Great idea, but FEMA would probably stop the trucks at the state

line, saying "This is Texas's responsibility, not Obama's. We cannot let him infringe on Texas's sovreiginity!"

[liberal N proud]

51. They stopped groups in 05

Wouldn't let trucks into NOLA with supplies.

[lynnertic]

90. That was different

Texas has a republican governor.

[WolverineDG]

77. so send Texas DUers the $$ & WE'LL GET THE DAMN ICE TO HOUSTON!

Be creative!

dg

[dolo amber]

65. This story is *from* the ABC News site

[Digit]

5. They need ice to keep food cold in ice chests

I am thinking of things like milk and eggs. Also, some meds need to be "refrigerated".

You can only eat so much peanut butter and jelly.

[Usrename]

95. Yes, all the food in the fridge will spoil without ice.

It is the most basic need. It can save lives.

FEMA is badly broken by these monsters.

[demnan]

6. What's next

water and food?

[iamjoy]

7. It Is The Most Basic

following a disaster, ice is one of the most important needs.

One could argue the Federal government has no business giving handouts to people who didn't purchase the right insurance*, but how can one logically argue that they shouldn't provide the immediate necessitites for survival?

* I know that the right insurance can be expensive, or sometimes nearly impossible to get. I know it's confusing for a lot of people. But I at least understand this attitude, even if I don't share it.

[EFerrari]

21. The first duty of any government is the safety of the populace. n/t

[spiritsong13]

8. I can't believe this crap

I've been through a few hurricanes myself and ice is one of the most basic supplies needed after a hurricane, WTF do they think they're doing. These are the biggest idiots I've ever seen.

[nickyt]

9. I need fema to circle the drain and fucking disappear

i cannot adequately express my disgust and hatred for this collection of cretins

[teknomanzer]

12. The agency is not the problem...

Its the idealogues running it into the ground. FEMA worked fine during the Clinton years and was praised as being a very effective and efficient agency, but like everything that Bush has a hand in it has been ruined completely. Republicans: They claim that government doesn't work, then get elected and prove it.

[nickyt]

17. yes, I know it used to be a great outfit...I am speaking of the fema of today...

[teknomanzer]

20. So what you really mean is...

You would like to see Bush and his whole worthless cabinet circle the drain and disappear. The problem now is that there is a real mess in the sink to clean up now... I really won't envy Obama should he be elected. I like to play armchair politician every now and then but I can't come up with any real good solutions to the mess we are in now. The economy might be salvaged over time with some really smart and progressive policies, FEMA could be fixed with the right leadership, but I feel like with Iraq and Afghanistan we will be damned any way we go.

[demo dutch]

62. Fema was independent during Clinton and not under Homeland. Clinton has strongly

opposed that change. Suggesting the bureaucracy would severely hamper it's efforts to react quickly and do what it saw fit.

[BayjanDem]

11. Soul-less Bastards N/T

[Xenotime]

19. Exactly. What the fuck is this office good for then?

[benld74]

13. OK Folks, find out Who the Ef in FEMA came up with this idiotic idea!

[happygoluckytoyou]

14. FEMA------ ONLY THEIR POLICIES ARE "ON THE ROCKS"

in a related story SARAH PALIN says that she has seen ice before, and can therefore be the ambassador to ICELAND

[raccoon]

15. What about if someone takes insulin shots, and has no electricity?

For that matter, what happened to such people in Nola after Katrina?

[Warpy]

24. Insulin can be stored at room temperature

even in a hot climate, for at least a week or two.

We refrigerate it in the hospital because there is a higher chance of contamination with multidose vials in that environment, as careful as we are. If it's cold, nothing on the cap can live long.

People on oxygen concentrators will be in more trouble when the power goes out.

[backscatter712]

30. How many other medical treatments require refridgeration?

Lots of other medications have to be kept cold so they don't spoil.

And I do hear that insulin should be refridgerated - while it doesn't have to be kept cold all the time, it should be kept cold so it lasts longer.

[Warpy]

41. The point is that it is stable at room temperature

and can be used at room temperature in a disaster, even in hot climates.

In the hospital, we really didn't have that much that needed to be refrigerated. Most medications are stable at room temperature.

Again, refrigeration is not the problem. Medical devices that rely on electrical power like oxygen concentrators, nebulizers, CPAP machines, and other vital equipment are far more of a problem since patients can decompensate very quickly without them.

[backscatter712]

42. Not to mention devices like respirators...

If someone needs a ventilator, a power failure is death, especially if it goes for so long that backup generators & such fail.

[AnneD]

75. Warpy...

when your 'room temp' is 90-100, insulin won't last either. We are in a semi-tropical enviroment. I was with out AC for most of the month of July and the temp in my travel trailer exceeded 110 in the afternoon and did not go down until 2-3 in the morning. I went to the AC cooled clubhouse to avoid heat exhaustion. My dogs were hosed down on a regular basis. In this enviroment....ice IS a necissity. I could tolerate high temps in the desert-but the humidity here makes it tougher to endure.

[uppityperson]

16. link to GD topic on this also. Has some commentary there..., FEMA link...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=4028822&mesg_id=4028822

FEMA link on their policy:
http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=37842

"Since 2005, FEMA has not and will not purchase and store ice in preparation for disaster support. FEMA will instead, rely on local purchase or vendor managed arrangements through the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) who has the mission lead for ice support under the National Response Plan. Their advanced contract initiatives and predictive model forecasts for commodities is a robust and reliable capability that makes them the source of choice for ice support.

FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror."

If the disaster is large enough for FEMA (feds) to be involved, it means the disaster is beyond what the state can deal with.

More from OP:

Another spokesperson said the new policy is part of "a smarter business model," in which states must provide ice themselves and then call in FEMA if there's trouble.

"When a state has a need for ice that they're not able to provide on their own, we'll provide that ice through partnerships with missions," said the spokesperson, pointing to the current situation in Texas in which the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been charged with ice delivery. She also said states can apply for reimbursement for ice from FEMA, although relief workers and watchdogs say that logistical issues are not helped by money that comes after the fact.

Smilowitz takes issue with both points, countering, "It's contrary to the whole purpose of FEMA… Just the fact that FEMA is involved means the disaster is over the head of the state."

[sudopod]

22. It isn't the G-D Berlin Airlift

Why the hell can't they feed a small American city in Texas?

[geomon666]

26. It's not that they can't.

They just don't give a damn.

[Karenina]

39. It's that they WON'T

This is working WELL for them. Depopulate the real estate, control the "story," hike the prices... Anybody read Naomi Klein's "The Shock Doctrine?"

[RedLetterRev]

86. No, really, they can't

When Brownie left, he took the recipe for ice with him. Nobody currently at FEMA remembers how to make it. :dunce:

[Enthusiast]

57. It's not an investment bank? nt

[damntexdem]

25. Imagine the nerve of those survivors who want ice just to keep their medications working!

And those who want it to avoid heat stroke!

They put their own health ahead of FEMA's need for PR. Don't they realize how much embarrassment its ice follies got FEMA into after Katrina? Don't they think that sickening or dying is a small price to pay for FEMA's continued well-being?

Ask not what your bureaucrat can do for you, rather ask what you can do for your bureaucrat.

[awoke_in_2003]

56. ...

"Don't they realize how much embarrassment its ice follies got FEMA into after Katrina?"
They realize that the good majority of americans either never knew about it or have forgotten.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

27. My guess: ABC owns an ice factory.

Or an affiliate/contractor does.


:think:

[LynneSin]

28. What pisses me off is if this was during the RNC, repukes would have been all over it

Why didn't we do for Ike what was done for Gustav?

:grr:

[RiverStone]

29. Ummm, bailout IGA spending billions - but no ice to hurricane survivors!

How can anybody vote for a continuation of this madness!?

[Plucketeer]

32. Ummm lessee.......

... Cause they got a hockey mom and a hockey puck for candidates??? :dunce::dunce: <- McCain/Palin team!

[ksimons]

33. WTF????!!!!

[Cathryn]

35. And we're surprised by this?

Sounds about typical for the Bush administration. A big ol' F-YOU to the citizens of the country who are suffering.

[penndragon69]

36. May the repukes all Burn In HELL !

[katty]

38. f/u Fema

[southern_belle]

40. OMG!

I hate Republicans! :mad:

[Auggie]

43. So the best way to get ice is through PRIVATE COMPANIES!

Another chapter in Disaster Capitalism

[road2000]

44. Bastards. Just bastards.

How the hell is a disaster area supposed to MAKE its own ice? Or haul it? I've never seen any refrigerated National Guard trucks.

We had privatized ice gouging after Hurricane Frederick (1979). The Feds came in and stopped it.

BTW, FEMA came into being through an executive order signed by Jimmy Carter in 1979.

[tooeyeten]

45. Another Bush failed policy

America step up, call the White House, call your own Congressional representative, let them know we are pissed off, and we are standing up for our Texan brothers and sisters.

[superconnected]

47. FEMA Claims no responsiblity in helping the people, everyone needs to point out what

they were really created for again.

They're obviously not planning to do anything other than that task.

[Juan_de_la_Dem]

49. What about hot bottled water for babies

[chelsea0011]

50. Get the fuck out-ta town.

[LonelyLRLiberal]

52. I wish we could strand those a**holes in Galveston without ice (or food or water or gas . . . ) nt

[FirstLight]

53. I am thouroughly disgusted by this...

But I am not surprised...

so sad, that our government has been gutted in such a way, really disgraceful. see what happens folks when we deregulate? ack!
Laws, guidelines, planning...all really DO have to be implemented. Otherwise, there is always bound to be someone with their hand in the cookie jar...
funding to help people in distress, gets routed to someone's pocket, and the people get screwed.

I wish grown ups knew how to play nice, that so many rules were not necessary. (KO actually said something about "parental supervision needed" in the markets last night) But I guess greed and the other deadly sins will happen every time. I used to think that people were inherently good...Now it is like looking at two different breeds of people, those who "get it" and function with integrity, honesty, tolerance, mindfulness, etc...and those who don't.

It wil be nice when Obama wins, and those of us who give a crap can hold our heads high once more - what great work we will do!
In the meantime, I am just so sad for those who are screwn down there... :cry:

[Kindigger]

54. I wish I could remember when....

I posted long ago, about a trucker friend of mine who was locked in an abandoned base in Texas, with several hundred trucks.

Someone in Texas went to the location I gave, and confirmed this.

I believe this was several weeks before Katrina. He said they were waiting to haul something out of the buildings on the base. They were locked in, were bussed up to a truck stop for showers, and were brought food; basically they weren't even allowed out of their trucks.

He got paid to sit there for two weeks or more. Finally, they let them all leave except one company.

At the time, someone here said the year before, a newspaper had got hold of a story w/pics of the gubmint disposing of tons of ice, and bottled water in a landfill .

My friend said a fleet of reefers were the only ones who stayed when everyone else was finally let go. He had been talking to some of these guys on the radio, and they were going to be disbursed all over the countryside, but they couldn't say where.

We surmised that they weren't going to store ice, and water anymore. After the embarrassment of the landfill fiasco, we suspected the reefers were going to be sent to different landfills so that no one could catch them dumping the stuff.

Then Katrina happened. I remember wondering why he was sitting there with a warehouse full of ice and water while trucks of ice were lost in Maine.

[maddezmom]

55. I found this link

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4605531

[Ilsa]

58. When hubby took supplies to his brother & family

in Houston on Monday, the first thing the kids and adults grabbed was the Popsicles I packed for them. All 24 pops were gone within the hour. He took a generator, ice, gas, and extra food. It made a huge difference. The older teen had been sick and having even a little A/C was a big deal.

[TexasLawyer]

59. The private sector can't address this need

Hrer is a typical republican response to this story, which I saw on ABC.com:

Ok why are Americans in disaster prone areas still depending on FEMA? If Katrina taught us anything it's that you need to take care of you b/c the government is unreliable. You should always have at least a weeks worth of food (non perishable) stored away along with water for each person. I see some people have mentioned the issues with those citizens that can't afford it but lets be honest here. We all know that hurrican season is from June to November so during those other months save $10 a month in a jar and continue during the season when there aren't storms. Though I do think that FEMA backing out of the most simple but one of the most important items which is ice is horrible we've learned time and time again that this is nothing new. FEMA is a joke.

MelCoast 4:05 PM

What this fails to consider is that when no one has electricity, no one has ice. In response to a major catastrophe, it needs to be brought in from somewhere else in HUGE quantities. I live in Houston, and we were asked NOT to evacuate. We took many precautions before Ike hit-- set our freezer at the lowest temp., froze extra ice, had ice chests on hand, ... but by day 3 all food was spoiled because we couldn't get ice.

I was ready to buy ice, and not looking for a FEMA "handout." Hell, I would have paid $20 a bag if I had to. But there was none to be found-- for DAYS. The grocery stores were closed, since they had no power and no ability to make ice. And the grocery's food was spoiled too, because they lacked electricity for refrigerators and freezers.

Who should the people look to in this situation? It demands a governmental response. If not for humanitarian reasons, then at least for dollars and cents reasons.

Spoiled food at the grocery stores and at residences is largely covered by insurance. Many households suffered other property damage (mine-- five holes in my roof), and so our deductibles are met and the spoilage can be added to our losses. All Americans are ultimately going to pay, directly or indirectly, the costs of those losses in higher premiums and grocery bills. I would guess that the cost of 1000 bags of ice would be dwarfed by the value of food that could have been saved if that ice was delivered on a timely basis where it was needed.

And if FEMA is going to change its policy re ice-- why can't it do so well in advance of a major catastrophe so that the states and other first responders can plan accordingly?

Also-- I would ask what area of America is NOT disaster prone? (ie-- never affected by fires, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, windstorms, ice storms, hurricanes, avalanches, ...) I guess MelCoast thinks we should all move there!

[BDW1964]

60. On another note.......

I am the chief of a Volunteer Fire-Rescue group in Texas. We have 100 trained, certified rescue technicians, 2 boats with trained crews, thousands of dollars in equipment purchased by fund-raisers in my unit alone. There are dozens of other volunteer Fire-Rescue and Search & Rescue groups in Texas and Louisiana. Not one volunteer rescue group has been activated, even though we all complied with registration, training and certification demanded by FEMA and the State. So while thousands of people need help, literally hundred of trained and equipped local (state) rescue crews are not being used. The only rescue crews are the FEMA/State Task Force Teams, which are paid. They brought in teams from California, Georgia, Tennessee and other places, while leaving assets idle while people suffer and die. Not just me, but dozens of Volunteer Chiefs and members are mad as hell and confounded on why the State and FEMA are doing this with one hand tied behind their back.......


One mad SOB.

[bluesmail]

61. FEMA is setting a precedent, a little too late

They need to Cover Their Asses for the crimes of Katrina. Ice sent to Maine? This is CYA. And it's creating a precedent for their F U 's in the past. Just like retroactive immunity for the crimes of treason that the telecoms welcomingly broke. HA! Can't wait to find out where this is headed. Head Hurts.

[demo dutch]

63. It really all started when Fema was moved under Homeland. It was always an independent

agency and worked extremely well. Bill Clinton severely criticized that move and suggested that the bureaucracy would severely hamper its efforts to act quick and do what it saw fit during emergencies. Droves of people quit the agency when it moved under the Homeland umbrella.

[Sequoia]

64. Palin says she'll cut iceberg near Alaska and tow to Texas

Putin delcare iceberg belongs to Russia.

[RC]

69. I'd believe "Putin says he'll cut iceberg near Alaska and tow to Texas.

Palin declared iceberg belongs to Russia."

Compared to Palin, Putin seems to be more honest and caring.

[Sequoia]

87. I have to agree.

[Zambero]

79. Can she see that iceberg from her house?

The per diem cash cow in Wasilla, that is. I hope Palin isn't confusing the berg with little ole Russia, since it's barely a stone's throw from her front porch!

[CanaveralKid]

66. I agree with the policy

We were told here in Florida that no Ice would be provided and you need to be prepared to take care of yourself for the first 48 hours. If your too stupid to do minor preparations then you deserve what you get. Ice isn't required to survive. They didn't have Ice 150 years ago and survived just fine. Emergency services should include all necessities to keep you alive; water, food, shelter and medical care if needed. Ice falls into the like to have category.

[AngryOldDem]

67. Did you miss this part of the story?

<<"This isn't for their gin and tonics," said Elise Hough, CEO of the Houston chapter of United Cerebral Palsy, who says she encountered a lot of indifference when she started raising the issue of FEMA's ice policy last month. "This is for people who are extremely sensitive to heat, and ice has a huge impact on their health and safety." <<

You can have all the ice your freezer can hold, but if your power goes out, eventually that ice will melt, turning into -- surprise! -- water. For some, having ice fits into the "necessities" you list above. God. If we can bail out fucking AIG, surely we can spare some change to make sure people have something as simple -- and as vital -- as ICE.

[BreweryYardRat]

91. Heat stroke/heat exhaustion can kill.

Especially old folks and people with certain medical conditions.

And like the article says, some medicines absolutely need to be kept cold.

And then there's the whole food spoilage thing.

Please think a little before you speak, okay?

[Thothmes]

92. The best think to prevent heat stroke and heat exhaustion is

plain ambient temperature water and lots of it. Ice is not necessary for that.

[jimshoes]

68. Did they mention anything about cake?

Like Marie Antoinette's infamous line, "let them eat cake" of the starving French peasants just before their appointment with the national razor.

[pleah]

70. Not surprised. Katrina was just a practice run for these criminals. n/t

[ticked]

72. Yeah practice makes perfect

and the government has failed the american people perfectly this time.

[justgamma]

71. Brownie told you why no ice.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/27/national/nationalspecial/27text-brown.html?pagewanted=75

He testified "And I think it's wrong for the federal government to be in the ice business, providing ice so I can keep my beer and Diet Coke cool."


These people are so out of touch, it's unbelievable.

[AnneD]

73. I am in Houston now....

we are not using ice for our cocktails. Medicines need to be kept cold (insulin, antibiotics, etc). Ice to the back of the neck can revive one from heat exhaustion. We caught a break here because the weather turned cool, but that didn't happen til Monday. On Saturday night it was so hot and humid, I thought I would throw up-and I am healthy.I could feel my sinuses draining into my chest and figured I was heading for pneumonia from the heat and humidity. Folks with power are sharing with those that don't have. We are taking Ice to those that don't have any. We were actually using frozen meat in coolers like ice before they thawed-just to have chilled water.

It's another way to cull the herd if you ask me. FEMA is starting to show their asses.

[slampoet]

74. So if there is no ice then BABIES DON'T Need MILK!!!?

[Botany]

76. Fire the head of FEMA now

I hope Obama gets rid of homeland security too

[Zambero]

78. So when GWB was on-camera, handing out ice in Florida in 2004...

...in between hurricanes, it was only for political gain in an election year swing state?
Since Ike's hard-hit disaster areas are located in safe "red" states, the GOP isn't sweating those electoral votes. Hence, no need for ice!!

[MadrasT]

80. Now wait just ONE MINUTE....

This article says there are truckloads of FEMA ice just sitting around in parking lots! :wtf:

http://www.woai.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=9836fa79-90b0-4bd4-80ba-de0c0d366b61

Driver Says FEMA Trucks Parked, Not Delivering Ike Supplies

SAN ANTONIO, TX -- A local truck driver left his family to help people affected by Hurricane Ike. But he and his family might soon have to get help themselves.

What's the problem? He's behind the wheel of a FEMA truck, and FEMA trucks are parked, instead of delivering.

Paula's husband is a truck driver. He left five days ago to help FEMA deliver supplies. But while they're hundreds of miles apart, they have something in common: They're both sitting around waiting.

If she's not texting him, Paula is on the phone with her husband. Her husband and other drivers had been, literally, sitting in their "loaded" trucks in Angleton waiting to help out the thousands of people affected by Hurricane Ike.

"I think it's absurd," Paula told News 4. "There are people out there who are needing the water. There's truck loads of ice, and they're just sitting there."

[Igel]

89. So you noticed one of the contradictions?

There are actually a few. For example, there's no ice being provided, but FEMA has the ACE provide ice. And, of course, we have a contradition from outside the article: One of the chief complaints is that people had to wait in line because the ice shipments to the PODs were late.

Ice shipments.

But there are no ice shipments, some would infer. So people waited for hours before something happened that couldn't happen. Therefore, since it couldn't happen, it didn't happen. The people must still stupidly be waiting there for something that can never arrive. Or we've reduced the proposition to an absurdity and falsified it in a snarky and mocking way.

Fine, FEMA's not arranging for the ice. ACE is arranging for the ice. Then FEMA has it at Reliant and it gets distributed with FEMA MREs and (to a much less extent these days) water.

Then again, what do I know. Apparently I've been sweltering in the heat and humidity here, if you believe those in California and points east. You see, we turned off our air conditioning and opened our windows on Sunday because the weather was pleasant, and haven't turned it back on yet. Who knew that we were nearing heat exhaustion? Answer: Only those not in Houston.

[KamaAina]

81. Time to put FEMA on ice

:grr: :banghead:

[nahant]

82. FEMA is a FAILURE under BUSHCO!!

WTF No ice??? I guess Global warming has come to FEMA!! This administration is the very worst egregious administration to ever fumble the running of the US government. Rethuglians need to be driven from office and be banned from ever holding office again!! How can this administration change policy on the fly and deny the victims ice which in these circumstances is a basic necessity.

[libodem]

83. What a bunch of ice-holes

I suppose because they ended up dumping millions of dollars worth of unused ice after Katrina they turned reactionary and made an arbitrary decision that nobody ever needs anything to keep cool.

[Imagevision]

84. This is because FEMA is having probs supplying food & water, ice is too costly?

[rcsl1998]

88. Yup! Everything That Was A Problem In The Past Is To Be Eliminated - Problem Fixed!

Ice, pictures, people...

[dogday]

93. We here in Houston have just one thing to say about that

Fuck FEMA and their bungling efforts to do nothing at all...

[olddad56]

94. my guess is a company with ties to the Bush admin will be ...

selling ice soon at outrageous prices. Any crisis that impacts the middle class is a business opportunity for the rich.