Florida Asks For And Gets A Handout

May 3, 2007 -

Washington - "U.S. Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL) today announced that the state of Florida will receive a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Fire Management Assistance Grant to reimburse Florida for the costs of the current suppression of uncontrolled wild fires, known as the Deland Fire Complex in Flagler, Volusia, Lake, and Seminole counties.

“The brave men and women who make up our fire departments are working to contain this wildfire affecting our Florida counties,” said Martinez. “I am pleased that FEMA has responded so quickly with this assistance, especially since the fire is not yet contained and our residents and their homes are increasingly in danger. These federal funds will help assist with the increasing costs of battling this wildfire.”

Senator Martinez went on to say, “These counties and their residents suffered greatly during the tornadoes of December ’06 and February ’07. FEMA has done a tremendous job assisting these counties in their rebuilding and recovery efforts—this work has helped to rebuild lives.”

Wednesday, the state of Florida requested a Fire Management Assistance Grant shortly after 6 p.m., and FEMA approved it shortly after 10 p.m."

I really don't like the idea of FEMA handing over one red cent for brush fire management, and have said as much in an email to Senator Martinez.

These fires DO happen with a reasonable degree of frequency, and why we weren't better prepared to deal with them is beyond me. We live in Florida for the obvious reasons, and those who can't afford to pony up and assist in assembling the resources to take care of business without begging for Federal monies, should look elsewhere for home and hearth. Nobody put a gun to my head to move here, and you and yours should not have to fork over your tax dollars because our woods got too dry and our firefighters were caught flatfooted.

In a true emergency well sure; one for all and all for one. But come on now. No moslems are invading Fort Lauderdale so toss a nickel a gallon on the price of gasoline and let us pay our own way.