FEMA Waives Repayment of Nearly $95M in Louisiana Storm Aid

October 12, 2012Email ThisPrintNewslettersTweetArticleComments

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has waived the repayment of nearly $95 million that the agency believes was improperly paid to victims of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma

According to a report by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General, FEMA also denied 1,293 requests totaling $6.3 million in improper payments and has recouped $1.3 million from applicants who got improper disaster payments.

At least some of the overpayments were due to FEMA employees’ own mistakes, ranging from clerical errors to failing to interview applicants, according to congressional testimony. In some cases, the errors resulted in FEMA providing applicants with duplicate payments.

FEMA said it is required by law to make an effort to recover improper payments, even if the recipient wasn’t at fault. Last December, Congress approved legislation that would allow FEMA to waive many of the debts.

The Times-Picayune reports the 18,283 waiver cases processed by FEMA represent 20 percent of the outstanding waivers, which total more than $371 million the agency said should be repaid. In addition to the money not recovered, implementing the waiver program has cost FEMA $4.8 million so far, and has resulted in the refund of $2.5 million to individuals who repaid their grant money, but were later granted a waiver, according to the report.

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Trayvon Martin March to Happen After Tallahassee Waives Insurance Requirement

April 4, 2012Email ThisPrintNewslettersTweetArticle14 Comments

A march in Florida’s state capital to protest the shooting death of Trayvon Martin is being held today after city officials relented and allowed the march to precede despite a lack of liability coverage.

Tallahassee officials had told the march organizer, the National Christian League of Councils, that it needed to show proof it could self-insure against any liability claim, after the NCLC said it could not obtain a $1 million liability policy as required by a city ordinance.

The NCLC said its application was rejected by 12 insurance companies due to the march’s controversial nature and security concerns.

Tallahassee City Attorney Jim English said the city decided to reverse itself and remove the insurance requirements citing concerns over the NCLC’s First Amendment rights.

He said the decision does not eliminate the risk of a claim and does not indemnify the NCLC against any possible claim. However, he said, in such event the city would consider any claims to be a private matter.

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