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Stop FEMA's hurricane freebies

Someone shut down FEMA's cash machine. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel has exposed how the Federal Emergency Management Agency reimbursed Floridians up to three times what they paid for hurricane-cleanup equipment. Getting money quickly to people who need it is admirable, but this program benefits wealthier residents who didn't need the help.

The Sun-Sentinel found the program cost taxpayers more than $332-million during the past two hurricane seasons. Even some whose receipts show they paid a lower price were reimbursed a fixed $836 for generators and $122 for a wet-dry vac. Because the program imposes no income restrictions, the recipients included doctors, lawyers and residents of the state's toniest communities. For 2004 alone, the newspaper found, 80 percent of the $242-million reimbursed went to middle- and upper-income neighborhoods. Wealthier people can afford to buy the tools and seek reimbursement of actual costs later.

The Sun-Sentinel 's report echoes its earlier series that detailed multimillion-dollar waste and fraud in FEMA reimbursements. The rules for $2,000 in emergency aid were so loose residents were able to scam FEMA inspectors over the phone. For Hurricane Wilma, which struck in October, FEMA reimbursed Floridians $84-million for generators and another $6-million for chain saws. The slush fund needs limits. The aid should help poorer residents cope, not provide opportunists free equipment - and a windfall.

Gov. Jeb Bush and several lawmakers want FEMA to tighten the reimbursements before next hurricane season, which begins June 1. Here's a simple idea: No reimbursement above actual cost, and no government check without a receipt.

[Last modified January 2, 2006, 02:30:25]