Fitting that as we approach Friday's third Katrina-versary, FEMA should once again rear it's ugly head. The government agency has turned down Illinois' appeal for relief stemming from March's flooding in southern Illinois. Governor Blagojevich claimed 659 homes were impacted from the flood, including 228 of which were either heavily damaged or destroyed. No word yet on how FEMA will blatantly ignore the victims of Tropical Storm Fay.

Stroger Makes Hollywood Play


Before you jump on the federal government about this, realize the role of incentives.
By bailing out every flooded area and providing funds to rebuild, we are actually encouraging people to rebuild on flood plains, and encouraging new residents and developers to build on those flood plains.
Lo and behold, within fifteen years, the nation is spending billions to rehab entire towns. That is no good for anyone. Let's limit the incentives to build on flood plains.
Why don't they resort to insurance coverage? It should not be a US federal government problem that folks build in a flood plain and don't buy insurance. If you can't afford the insurance, then maybe you should think twice about building or buying there.
For decades FEMA has gone to great lengths to provide flood insurance, then every one gets pissed at them for not being able to bail out every idiot who is not prepared. FEMA is not as you have put it "blatantly ignor[ing] the victims", rather the victims have ignored FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program and now they are paying the price. I am so sick of people acting like the government owes them something when they fail to take the necessary precautions that the government has offered to them.