Dr. Nufrio chaired a national panel on “Lessons Learned” from the Storm Recoveries of Superstorm Sandy and the 2016 Baton Rouge Flood. Directly below is the full video. The conference is part of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) National conference in Atlanta, GA. It was held on Sunday, March 19, 2017.
Below are clips of key points of the conference.
10:40 Congressman Graves “If 8 Billion Mitigation Dollars were spent before Katrina, 90% of the lives and $135 Billion Dollars would have been saved.”
https://youtu.be/mHcjaSXBInE?t=10m37s
11: 26 Congressman Graves – “Ratepayer are being subjected to extraordinary rates ” (flood insurance premiums) . “Not true actuarial rates”
https://youtu.be/mHcjaSXBInE?t=11m24s
37:07 Congressman Graves – “I have not had a good experience with FEMA.” “Especially Infuriating” https://youtu.be/mHcjaSXBInE?t=37m7s
37:52 “FEMA is worse overall” (From Previous Storms- Katrina, Rita, Ike, etc.)
38:50 Congressman Graves- “FEMA does not know how to allocate resources”. I don’t have tolerance for FEMA inefficiencies.
https://youtu.be/mHcjaSXBInE?t=38m50s
39:40 George Kasimos – There is no Emergency in FEMA. https://youtu.be/mHcjaSXBInE?t=39m40s
40:23 George Kasimos – 4.5 years and Superstorm Sandy Survivors are still waiting to get paid on their claims.
41:07 George Kasimos – Louisiana Still has not received the 1.2 Billion in Funds to rebuild. (7 months after the storm)
48:10 Dr. Nufrio – Deregulation of the Stafford Act requirements. Flood Survivors are “further victimized by the government having to deal with the bureaucracy”.
https://youtu.be/mHcjaSXBInE?t=47m14s
48:35 George Kasimos – “Why do we have to fill out the same paperwork for FEMA, Red Cross, Catholic Charities, LTRG, Rental Assistance, Grant Programs, etc…? We should only have to apply one time”
49:25 George Kasimos – “Lost Paperwork, Repeatedly Submitted”. Not allowed to fax over paperwork. Had to drive it to the program location.
49:45 George Kasimos – “FEMA is the Disaster”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHcjaSXBInE&feature=youtu.be&t=49m43s
49:50 Dr. Nufrio – Think about the Seniors walking away, from grant money, because of the bureaucracy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHcjaSXBInE&feature=youtu.be&t=49m54s
52:00 George Kasimos – Before rebuilding homeowners need to know what their flood insurance premium will rising to in the next few years. IS IT EVEN WORTH IT TO REBUILD IF YOU CAN’T AFFORD THE FLOOD INSURANCE PREMIUMS? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHcjaSXBInE&feature=youtu.be&t=52m1s
54:02 Congressman Graves – Mitigation saves more than 1 to 4 in cost savings. https://youtu.be/mHcjaSXBInE?t=54m2s
54:30 Congressman Graves – There are mitigation projects from dozens of Federal agencies, we need to stop that. (they need to be better coordinated). “Some Mitigation projects are 40 years old, if it makes sense to build it, it makes sense to build it now” https://youtu.be/mHcjaSXBInE?t=54m36s
55:40 Congressman Graves – Mitigation projects need to be considered more holistically – on a community basis. Not individual house raising.
56:20 Congressman Graves – HUD plays a big role in recovery. “Time Costs Money”. Because of delays, I have relatives that sold their homes for $30,000. “There are new rules for every disaster”. https://youtu.be/mHcjaSXBInE?t=56m20s
57:51 – Congressman Graves – “I don’t see FEMA fixing itself” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHcjaSXBInE&feature=youtu.be&t=57m53s
59:40 Congressman Graves – “The Bureaucracy re-victimizes survivors”
https://youtu.be/mHcjaSXBInE?t=59m40s
1:02:25 Senator Brodie – The $15,000 temporary housing programs are a “waste of taxpayer money”. https://youtu.be/mHcjaSXBInE?t=1h2m25s
1:04:58 Sen. Brodie / Cong. Graves – FEMA TRAILERS
The cost for a FEMA trailer is “ASTRONOMICAL”. The Average cost for a FEMA trailer is $129,000. “THIS IS RIDICULOUS” . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHcjaSXBInE&feature=youtu.be&t=1h4m58s
1:09:40 Congressman Graves / Senator Brodie – The Sheriff’s department was ignored when it asked FEMA for funds to buy trailers for their officers. The Sheriff’s department could have purchased 6 Trailers for every trailer FEMA purchased. Congressman graves stated that the Sheriff’s office could purchase a trailer for $37,000 installed and the dealer would buy it back for $8,000 = $25,000 per trailer. FEMA is paying $150,000 for a similar trailer. The Sheriff’s Department was denied even though they are 600% cheaper! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHcjaSXBInE&feature=youtu.be&t=1h9m38s
1:14:00 Congressman Graves discussing FEMA Communicating to flood survivors; Substantially Damaged, Licensed Contractors, Programs for assistance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHcjaSXBInE&feature=youtu.be&t=1h14m3s
The Panel Members
Professor Phil Nufrio – Metropolitan College – New York – Host
Professor Mirabella – Seton Hall University – New Jersey – Host
Congressman Garret Graves – Louisiana
Senator Mack “Bodi” White – Louisiana
John Petrosino – New Jersey Dept. of Consumer Affairs – RREM Program
George Kasimos – StopFemaNow Founder – New Jersey
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