From LATimes

By Sally Kestin, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

[excerpted]

“The national disaster response agency that mishandled the Hurricane Katrina catastrophe has for years been fraught with waste and fraud.

In five years, the Federal Emergency Management Agency poured at least $330 million into communities that were spared the devastating effects of fires, hurricanes, floods and tornadoes, an investigation by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel has found.”

“…In Los Angeles after the 2003 wildfires in surrounding areas, smoke was the key. Tell FEMA that smoke ruined your TV, got in your clothes or spoiled the paint job on your car, residents said.

“All you’ve got to do is say something was damaged,” said Tasha Williams, a 26-year-old mother of three and tenant of Imperial Courts, a public housing development in Watts. “It’s free money.”

FEMA gave out checks, some for almost $9,000, to Los Angeles-area residents.”

“…In Cleveland’s recreation centers, barbershops and day-care centers, residents said people hauled old clothes and furniture into their basements and told FEMA the items were damaged by flooding from the 2003 storm. City officials documented 73 homes with minor damage, yet the federal government gave 28,500 Cleveland-area residents $41.4 million.”

“Oh, man, it’s easy,” Elias Chaney, 49, of Baton Rouge said neighbors told him. “Get you a new TV. Get your own sofa set. Ain’t no red tape.” (more…)