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Headlines of hurricane related news reports reported in local media, information from web sites and original updates by Davie Hurricane Relief.org

Editor's Note on the 2005 Edition of DavieHurricaneRelief.org

January 1, 2006- With the arrival of 2006, it is time to suspend daily updates to Davie Hurricane Relief.org (DHR.org) until conditions warrant. We have learned much this year...that a private web site devoted to hurricane issues, preparation, policy and relief is crucial to the continued discussion and communication that is necessary to deal with hurricanes.

During this year we have posted many articles on very serious issues dealing with a wide variety of emergency preparedness topics. Editorials and stories dealing with ways to communicate in the immediate aftermath of major natural events, federal and local tax reform, the affordable housing crisis, FEMA, shelters, hurricane research, relevant legislation, catastrophic savings accounts and many more have been posted. That content remains available for your review in the pages which follow.

This site worked with the Town of Davie and Broward County government as a partner. We sincerely thank the Town, its elected officials and staff for this on-going partnership. All South Florida residents should be proud of the efforts the Town made in the days following Katrina and Wilma, and especially the solution it provided to the McNichol shelter crisis...solved by Davie and private interests when the doors to the Davie PAL building opened to house the displaced. Another crucial partner is Interweb Designs, Inc., of Georgia, which hosts these pages as a free public service on its server. We thank Interweb for its community involvement and its support for this important effort. We sincerely appreciate the team work.

We tried, and did contribute in a small measure to hurricane relief, both in Mississippi and Florida. Supplies and goods were distributed in both regions as a result of this web site. Printers and calculators were sent to help rebuild Pass Christian High School in Mississippi. Davie Hurricane Relief.org posted pictures, video reports and updates on hurricane victims who suffered emotionally devastating losses. Some roof protection, clothing and other assistance was distributed locally. We helped highlight serious sewage back flow problems after Hurricane Wilma. Offers to help Katrina victims in the Gulf were received from all across the United States and Canada. Connections were established. There was even an inquiry from Kuwait, as our audience was world wide. DHR.org was the only Broward County site advertising on Google seeking to spread the word on local emergency relief and the needs of residents. At the height of interest in Wilma, this site was a top ranked resource on Google's search results. When pictures and news faded from the media, DHR.org kept the spot light on hurricane relief, recovery and policy issues. All of this was done to a diverse audience. And that proves our point...this site can be used as an effective medium to enhance communications both before and after emergency events such as hurricanes by connecting those that can help with those that need it the most.

There is so much more that needs to be done. The issues discussed herein need serious discussion and action. It has been a difficult year watching destroyed cities, homes and lives. The emotions and images remind us of the important mission ahead. This site will comment over the next few months on key ideas and issues that do not disappear just because hurricane season is over. The discourse on private and governmental policies in dealing with emergencies will continue from time to time on these pages, and when needed, Davie Hurricane Relief.org will be available as a communication tool to link all of us to relevant information that can, and will, make a difference. We have untapped potential, such as use by homeowner, condominium and neighborhood associations in linking residents. In the end, you will determine the usefulness of this web effort.

We invite you to check back from time to time. Until next season, best wishes for 2006. Stay informed, be creative, and be safe.

Sincerely,

Mitch Chester, Editor

Week of December 25, 2005

Incredible But True, Tropical Storm Zeta Formed On 12.30.05

Here's another for the record books...the National Hurricane Center reports the formation of the 27th tropical event of the year, as the one month anniversary of the end of the official 2005 hurricane season is marked. Link to National Hurricane Center Tropical Prediction Center for the latest updates.

Internal DHS Audit Highlights Need For Change, But Not All Urgent Changes Are At the Agency...Some Are Local

An internal audit of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) by the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was released to the media on December 28. Citing "overburdened resources and infrastructure" in dealing with Gulf Coast hurricanes in 2005, the report is quoted by L.A.Times.com as calling for "an unprecedented need for oversight." The Times reports a DHS spokesman as stating changes at FEMA are on the way to strengthen recovery and response capabilities. Providing assistance to victims of disasters, "emergency response information systems," managing grants and contracts and other functions were reviewed in the audit.

As America reviews the audit and ponders what changes will be made, it is important to note that there are problems in accepting aid which are outside the control of FEMA. Trailers ready for placement, actually deployed in the Gulf and provided by FEMA, are running into some local road blocks. CBS.com reported on December 29 that some Gulf coasts communities offered FEMA assets for temporary housing for displaced residents are blocking final placement and use of the trailers even at the four month anniversary of Katrina. CBS reported FEMA has 18,000 trailers available, but many are not being used due to a "not in my back yard" attitude and fear of crime and low property values by residents and some local government officials. Meanwhile, some Gulf residents continue to live in cars, tents, hotels, motels and elsewhere such as shelters.

As DHS seeks ways to improve its processes, perhaps Congress needs to look at the issue of local pre-emption of what assistance FEMA actually is able to deliver. Reforming FEMA can only go so far if local government holds up assistance which actually reaches affected areas. This deadlock only exacerbates the pain of hurricane victims with few housing options for long term recovery.

Voting Rights and the Hurricane Displaced

Here's a post hurricane problem most people have not thought of yet. What happens when people are displaced by a major emergency event and scattered throughout the nation in temporary housing, but are entitled to vote? On December 27, television station KATC reported the difficulty experienced by the Louisiana Secretary of State in locating voters to inform them of their voting rights in upcoming elections. The station reports the state's top election official was considering suing FEMA to obtain more useful information to locate voters disbursed by the 2005 hurricanes. Finding displaced residents was not easy for the State government, but FEMA has agreed to help and has provided updated information that will address the problem.

This issue seems to have been solved by FEMA, but it raises questions about the ability to reach voters in other hurricane prone areas in future recovery periods. Are local voting officials going to be supplied sufficient information by FEMA and other agencies to assist in the voting process as other storms hit the nation? What agreements can be put in place now to ensure that lawsuits to locate the displaced do not have to be threatened by state officials so registered but displaced voters can avoid missing elections while they reside in temporary venues? Is FEMA ready to assist local Supervisors of Elections in their preparations for elections after disasters?

Become a Davie Hurricane Relief.org Correspondent or Contributor

There are thousands of you out there who have something to say about the 2005 Hurricane Season. Stories of hope, despair, anger, thanks, volunteer efforts and lessons learned are just a few of the topics you talk about daily. Now this web site is offering you a medium to share your experiences and views. If you are a Gulf Coast hurricane survivor, a displaced Florida resident, a volunteer, a FEMA worker, a teach with a class, a professor instructing a journalism project, or a private individual who offered aid in the wake of Katrina, Rita or Wilma, please consider putting your thoughts into an e-mail for publication on this site. If you are a government official with a message for your constituents, share your thoughts. If you have an idea for legislation, let us know. If you have digital video or pictures to share about your experiences, Davie Hurricane Relief.org is ready to serve as a national forum for your personal journalism. If you are watching the reconstruction of your area and want to publicly track progress, write and send your thoughts. Content submitted to the site may be published by sending it to mac0202@bellsouth.net. The site will not publish any copyrighted works and submitted articles may be altered for space and content. Only authors who have supplied names and addresses will be published on relevant and constructive hurricane preparation, rescue and relief topics. (Addresses will not be published without permission). There are so many tales of importance to share in preparation for the next hurricane season...let's reach out together in a meaningful way with your insights so others can hear you via a "mega blog."

Hurricane Forecasting and Tracking Get Congressional Funding Boost, But More Money Is Needed For Research

Last week brought welcome news for the National Hurricane Center (NHC), and all of us. Congress passed legislation funding a White House request for $25 million to assist forecasters in storm tracking. According to The Miami Herald, new buoys and ground sensors will be purchased and there will be money for increased use of sophisticated hurricane hunter aircraft.

The Herald took some credit for the success, based upon an investigative series entitled "Blind Eye" which focused on the need to upgrade the tools the NHC uses to track and predict storms. The paper reported on December 24 that an additional WP-3D Orion aircraft will be purchased to compliment the small fleet of hunter aircraft. Sensors dropped from hunter aircraft will be improved through redesign, and other tools will be added or upgraded including "200 sensors in hurricane-prone areas" that will be insured with back up power to fix problems which deprived the NHC of valuable wind speed data as Wilma approached South Florida.

The article points out another plus from the Congressional action is a new computer model system which should increase the growing accuracy of forecasts. According to the Herald it may take a year or more for the enhancements to be in place and operational, but at least they are on the way. Congress has already increased funding for more forecasters at the NHC in separate legislation and additional funds for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Some projects did not get money, however, and the Herald reports certain crucial needs remain, such as an additional Gulfstream jet to fly around developing storms to measure wind steering currents and dollars for the Hurricane Research Division at the NHC.

U.S. Senator Bill Nelson, along with other lawmakers, worked to provide the increased funding, but more needs to be accomplished. The challenge of 2006 will be for additional funding, of mere millions of dollars, to enhance the nation's hurricane research efforts, which differ from forecasting and tracking. For related information on hurricane research legislation, click here.

Immediate and Accurate Information From The Ground

In the December 26 edition of Newsweek, a brief story appears about information gathering and intelligence flow in the hours and days following Katrina. The subject of the article was Michael Chertoff, the Secretary of Homeland Security. Bottom line: Getting accurate and timely information from the ground in places like New Orleans following Katrina was difficult, slow, ad hoc and often plain wrong. Case in point: Obtaining an accurate number of people stranded at the Convention Center in Downtown New Orleans. The article points out Homeland Security had to be "told by a radio reporter" that an urgent situation even existed at the Convention Center.

Traditional communication broke down after Katrina. It was not the first time. When Andrew struck South Miami-Dade County in 1992, it took the Miami Herald to scream a front page bold face headline for many to understand the severity of the disaster and for the federal government to ramp up recovery efforts.

With the advent of wireless communications and the ability to provide voice over internet communications (VOIP) with speed and efficiency, it seems one common sense solution to a local information source is using pre-positioned citizen reporters who can inform government sources about the severity, or hopefully lack thereof, of extremely local conditions in the first few hours after a hurricane or other disaster has hit a region. DaveHurricaneRelief has an article elsewhere on this site on that topic. ((Article). As the Department of Homeland Security Secretary seeks improvements in FEMA's domestic disaster information flow, a volunteer pre-positioned "Citizen Disaster Information Network" with VOIP technology should be considered.

One Temporary Housing Answer Raises Two More Questions

On December 24, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported that some seniors who used to live in condominiums have moved due to hurricane damage into assisted living facilities (ALF) as a solution to disaster housing problems. While some found hotels, motels or apartments or lived with families, the paper reported the ALF solution was chosen by many as at least a temporary measure as condominiums began the slow process of repair. The article points out the Florida Department of Elder Affairs "has no statistics on how many seniors were displaced by Wilma, or where they ended up." While some of the elderly living in ALF's are receiving financial assistance, the paper reports others have to pay for the ALF but continue paying for their mortgages.

For senior citizens who are independent enough to live on their own, the article points out important financial issues. First, Homeowner's insurance policies do not cover mortgage payments, as a general rule. Perhaps that option should be made mandatory to offer policy holders and new applicants. If not, then perhaps those communities designated as "adult only" should be required to levy assessments for natural disaster insurance, so that if residents are displaced, they do not face their mortgage company as they are rebuilding their homes. Second, why can't the State of Florida track the elderly displaced, but still maintain their privacy? With such a database, the all levels of government could know where to find the elderly who have been affected by disasters and deliver assistance, financial aid or any other relief which is made available.

Week of December 18, 2005

Contrasts and Confusion and the Work Ahead

According to MSNBC.com on December 23, "7,000 trailers sit empty at the Hope Ark., airport." At the same time, the article points out that many residents are still living in cars and even tents in devastated areas. The Federal Government claims the trailers have not been approved sites for the temporary homes.

This as Congress reportedly diverted $24 billion in funds originally earmarked for FEMA and directed the funds be sent directly to states in the Gulf and agencies in hard hit areas, "hoping to speed the recovery." There is a call by Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill.) for a "chief financial officer" to monitor disaster spending, while MSNBC reports only a portion of the billions approved by Congress for the Gulf rebuilding effort have actually been spent over 3 months Katrina scarred the region. Amazingly, 600, that's right, six hundred federal auditors and investigators are in the Gulf states looking for waste and corruption according to MSNBC.

As MSNBC reports on problems in getting an accurate federal head count of those individuals and families housed in Carnival Cruise Line ships in the Gulf, the article reveals many cabins remain empty based upon figures supplied by the cruise line itself.

The Sun-Sentinel reported on December 23 that Governor Jeb Bush is upset about the manner in which FEMA reimburses people who buy generators and other storm related equipment under a federal program. FEMA is allegedly overpaying based on "average" prices, and not actual receipts for specific amounts. There is a charge by U.S. Representative Kendrick Meek (D-Fla.) that "FEMA computers are blindly generating checks" without making sure reimbursements are accurate in a program which pays people to buy generators, chain saws and other equipment.

Washington Post.com reported on December 23 that attempts to locate missing children displaced by Katrina "are stalled" in a conflict between privacy laws and the need for immediate action. The article states FEMA was allegedly not willing to share a database of the displaced with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children due to privacy concerns. According to the article, it took Justice Department and White House officials to work out a compromise and slow progress is being made. Privacy laws need to be reviewed in light of the need to share information to help hurricane victims, but the process of amending those laws and regulations is a cumbersome one.

It is clear from these disturbing reports there should be no rest in our collective efforts to get ready for the next hurricane season, just over 6 months away. There is much work to be done, including the reorganization of FEMA and getting local municipalities ready.

Is FEMA Facing Major Change?

MSNBC.com reported on December 20 that Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff is preparing the Federal Emergency Management Agency for major changes. By altering the way FEMA does its job, the goal would be enhancement of the agency's abilities to confront and deal with natural disasters such as hurricanes, fires, floods, earthquakes and other catastrophes. Chertoff reportedly mentioned the need for FEMA employees to cut red tape and avoid bureaucratic road blocks that delay aid to those in immediate need for days, weeks or even longer. The possibility of changes in early 2006 was raised, according to the web report. This is welcome news for the future, and clearly major corrections need to be made as soon as possible. Some may require Congressional action, and other process changes may be made by the Executive Branch without the need for specific legislation.

One idea worthy of consideration in such a revision is a "bill of rights" for catastrophe victims who are to be aided by FEMA efforts. Publicly stating federal goals and aspirations so hurricane victims and others can have a basic understanding of what FEMA can realistically do and what it cannot be called upon to accomplish is important. There are many misconceptions about FEMA and what it is designed to provide, what it is supposed to do, and when FEMA aid is targeted to reach victims. By making such a list available to the public before and after events which trigger FEMA involvement, local governments and those in need can better understand the role of the federal government in disaster recovery and relief, and what localities need to do while FEMA is gearing up to help. Many false expectations would be eliminated.

Katrina Was A Category 3 Tropical Cyclone At Gulf Landfall

Calling it "one of the most devastating natural disasters in United States History," researchers at the National Hurricane Center on December 20th reported that Hurricane Katrina was a Category 5 powerhouse over open waters, but only a Category 3 event when it hit the Gulf Coast on August 29th, 2005. When it passed through South Florida, it was a Category 1. Many had been under the impression that Katrina was a Category 4 event when it hit the northern Gulf region.

The implications of this new government study are sobering. Katrina was one of the most deadly storms in recorded history. A direct hit ocean side storm surge by a Katrina-like storm in South Florida has the potential to do far more damage than even Wilma did. Now that the true strength of Katrina is revealed, we all should have a greater respect for what a "3" can mean to all of us. The full report on Hurricane Katrina can be seen on the National Hurricane Center web site.

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An Economic and Psychological Hurricane Is Striking South Florida

Hurricane season may be over, but the psychological and physical impact of the event is still the topic of discussion and debate in every corner of South Florida. You cannot go to a shopping center, an office or a social event without someone, in some way, mentioning "Wilma." The impact on this community is deep, and not without reason. Sun-Sentinel.com reported in a front page story on Sunday, December 18, about the structural damage suffered in Broward County alone. Condominiums, apartments and mobile homes, the article states, were hit the hardest, with houses doing better. Of course, there are more homes than other residential structures across our local landscape, but the paper reports that "only 42 were deemed uninhabitable, barely 1 percent of all severely damaged buildings." The article authors also reported low income areas were especially hard hit. While "hundreds" of properties were deemed uninhabitable, the paper also reports "more than 2,300 addresses appeared on the county's list of uninhabitable structures."

If, as reported, one in 8 people who live in Broward sought help from FEMA, that is an amazing number in such a highly populated region. The problem is magnified when families are displaced, and senior citizen communities lose the ability to safely house their residents. Mobile home parks were, of course, hit severely in some cases, but not uniformly. The Sun-Sentinel reports Town of Davie officials found the most mobile home damage and red-tagged "827 trailers," more than any other Broward community. "Red tag" can mean move out.

Businesses are hurt, some badly. With many residents facing repairs not covered by huge homeowner policy deductibles, store sales seem down for some retailers.

Most importantly, the Sun-Sentinel reports "hundreds of families" are still looking for places to reside. Their story is one of heartbreak and uncertainty, but not much is seen nor heard about these people except in occasional media reports. Street conversation on the subject seems absent. The displaced have disappeared into the social fabric of the area, quietly reaching out for help from any level of government. As most of the South Florida population puts the 2005 hurricane season behind them, some are still in the immediate wake of the storm.

Wilma, like other recent Florida storms, is affecting the housing market at many different levels. As property values increased astronomically, so did taxes, and now, according to another article on Sun-Sentinel.com insurance rates, which reports Citizens Property Insurance is seeking rate increases of over 32 percent for "wind-only premiums in Broward County." Some premiums are so high some people are not moving or upgrading. There are predictions of "distressed sales" and falling real estate prices. Mobile home residents face especially hard choices. For example, according to an article in Herald.com on December 18, a trailer park in the Keys is set to close as residents received eviction notices. Hurricane Wilma was cited by the the owner of the mobile home park as one factor in his decision to close the community. In Grassy Key, "there is no place in this city for 65 families," one middle Keys resident is quoted as saying. According to the Herald, even in the Keys, the residential rental market is suffering an "already tight supply." Even residents of upscale homeowners associations are facing financial headaches from special assessments. Some are reportedly very emotional about how far even their budgets can be stretched in post Wilma life. There have been recent media reports of people moving further north in the State to avoid this housing market. Further complicating this already too complex issue is the rising tide of condominium conversions. Herald.com reported on December 18 that higher taxes are forcing rental communities to change to the ownership model. This cuts back on rental housing and restricts South Florida in attracting, and keeping, different levels of wage earners and workers. The Herald reports rents are increasing faster than wages. You know what that means...people will not be able to live here, even those who already do. Another sign reported in the article...Companies that do not want to relocate here.

All of this portends a major economic shift is quietly underway. Ultimately, the trio of prices, taxes and hurricane driven insurance rates may affect all housing in the County, not just those properties harmed by Wilma. If real estate sales start to drop in light of massive premium increases, a financial hurricane is just approaching and has made "land fall." The community psyche is already hearing how the "bubble will burst." Wilma, however, may have sped up the winds of economic change, and if property values appreciably drop because of the "trio," millions will be affected by the winds of economic change. Middle and lower income level families, workers and residents are facing this new reality in an area already partially paralyzed by transportation gridlock and the shortage of skilled workers. If they cannot afford to live here, our local society cannot function. That makes affordable housing the number one issue facing South Florida, an issue which is just as important as hurricane preparation and recovery because it is part of the puzzle we all face in this challenged strip of land from the Keys through Palm Beach County.

All of this leads us to ask, is hurricane season really over?

Week of December 11, 2005

As the Sun-Sentinel reported on December 15 about the increasing trend to convert rental properties to condominiums (the paper reported a study by a research firm which shows over 18,000 residences in Broward County have switched from rental to condominium units just in the last year), not all is well on the homeowner front either. Some homeowner associations have been socked with huge cleanup and repair bills since Hurricane Wilma. In many cases, residents are facing significant special assessments, and many homeowner association members simply cannot afford the extra fees. In fact, many home purchasers who already faced steep tax bills and regular maintenance fees complain they are at the breaking point if they have to pay hundreds or even thousands more to their associations. Even upscale and upper middle class communities are not immune from this problem. While some associations had sufficient pre-Wilma financial reserves and can avoid special assessments, others did not. The housing crisis is not just limited, it seems, to the lack of affordable housing, which is itself a daunting public policy challenge. The high cost of homeowner association membership in some cases is another symptom of a deeper financial crisis facing South Florida residents in general...affordable housing from the rental and the ownership perspectives.

The revolutionary times in which we live are accented by new technologies and the way people apply them. In an article which appears in the December edition of Discover Magazine, there is a discussion about how ordinary citizens are using the internet to remedy "damaged information systems in disaster recovery efforts."

According to the article, "...the Internet revolution teaches us that ordinary citizens can play a crucial role in creating nimble new channels of information that are more resilient than official channels." The article's author, Steven Johnson, talks about how volunteers in stressful times "supply data" to help in searching for survivors such in the days and weeks following Katrina. Johnson describes how web blog authors teamed up with a service called PeopleFinder, and an ad hoc effort of communication was born almost over night as a site called Katrinalist.net listed thousands of queries and entries to help locate the missing or displaced. Most amazing was the speed with which the PeopleFinder technology was developed...just four days. According to Discover, the cost was zero dollars.

Other sites were born, such as Katrinahousing.org, which was reportedly designed to connect the displaced with individuals around the nation who could house them. According to Johnson, within two weeks, 5,000 people had found homes using that service. Further into the article mention is made of the wireless networks which were developed, almost over night, in areas that did not have traditional communication service due to the fury of Katrina. Internet telephone service was provided with all deliberate speed, along with other creative ideas. (For more on emergency wireless networks and their use in disasters, click here).

Johnson concludes that the efforts of volunteers can step in for government in a meaningful role when troubled times hit. Taking advantage of this new form of citizen involvement is, in part, what Davie Hurricane Relief.org is all about. The difference is, the service exists and is ready to serve in the next disaster. The infrastructure is in place. As we stand at the ready to assist in productive and constructive ways, this site is also present to promote disaster planning and recovery ideas, and to discuss responsible legislation and government policy.

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What happens when your home is destroyed or rendered uninhabitable and your homeowner's coverage will only pay for some of the damage, but you are stuck paying increasingly large deductibles? What happens when you cannot live in your home, but still need to pay your mortgage? Many people in the Gulf were shocked to learn they still have mortgages to pay and their homeowner's coverage is very limited and of no help with the monthly mortgage obligation. They are digging deep to pay hurricane deductibles at a time when the cost of rebuilding stronger structures is increasing. Davie Hurricane Relief.org did some checking, and found one solution...natural disaster insurance.

Each homeowner's policy needs to be reviewed carefully to see if you have mortgage payment coverage. If you do not, we found at least one Miami-Dade company which will pay your monthly mortgage payments for up to two years following a hurricane, flood or other disasters, can pay your mortgage balance under certain circumstances (condemnation or permanently not livable due to natural disasters) and/or which can pay a portion of your deductible. Most people are not aware of this kind of insurance. If you are interested, use your search engine for natural disaster insurance. Before purchasing any natural disaster policy, review your homeowner's policy very carefully and obtain proper advice from a qualified professional.

An insurance check up is very important every few years. For example, do you have a homeowner's policy which you have not reviewed since purchasing the house years ago, but your appraised property value has increased? With the value of real estate rising over the past 5 years or more, you may be underinsured. This is often a correctible problem. An appraisal from a qualified individual or company may be the smartest thing you can do before meeting with your agent to review your coverage and policy limits, as you may have a basis for increasing your overall insurance protection.

The problem with policy deductibles was discussed in an article in the Miami Herald on December 13. The paper reported that some homeowners have to pay multiple deductibles, for damage from different hurricanes and that a new law is designed to eliminate this kind of double exposure. The bill did not take effect, however, until May 1, 2005. According to the Herald, some policyholders who had their contracts renewed prior the the law taking effect still have to pay a deductible for each hurricane which produced damage. Some companies are not enforcing the contractual restrictions and are easing the burden on insureds, but others are not. The Chief Financial Officer for the State of Florida, it was reported, is asking the companies not to require multiple deductibles despite the effective date of the law.

On December 14, the Sun-Sentinel reported another problem involving mortgage companies. As "loss payees" on homeowner's policies, the paper reports that some mortgage companies are not releasing all homeowner's insurance proceeds, until there is proof that repairs to the mortgaged property are completed. In some cases, urgently needed funds to start and complete construction repairs are reportedly being held up by mortgage companies, thus denying property owners the use of all the funds they need to complete the repairs. This poses a financial hardship on insureds just at the time of most critical need. Why should a homeowner need to borrow monies to fix properties from equity accounts when the money from homeowners insurance should be made fully available without reservation when a qualified claim is made? On the other hand, mortgage companies are trying to protect their substantial interests. The report points out the federal officials have been working on the issue, but Washington has not taken any major steps to regulate this conflict between mortgage companies, homeowners and insurance companies.

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There are so many dimensions to the new reality after major hurricanes. The New York Times, in a front page story about zoning in the Gulf Coast after Katrina, reported December 12 about the existence of a titanic struggle over what should be re-built, and where, in Mississippi and on the coastal underbelly of the United States. The article states the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) wants re-constructed homes to be elevated to minimize the risk of flooding. That may cost more than survivors can afford. Should beach areas be completely unpopulated for miles in the new Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana? Can entire towns be moved? Should cities be allowed to rebuild just as they were before? Should building codes be altered to be the toughest in the nation even if life long residents cannot pay the bills? What about survivors who want to rebuild but cannot in ways the government would like to mandate...should they be able to reclaim their properties and not follow tougher development standards?

Government advice and planning, the article points out, is colliding with the interests of individuals, businesses, and entire industries, such as housing and the financial sector. The need to strengthen devastated areas against future monster storms has some local governments following federal recommendations, and some refusing to go along in order to expedite the recovery process. Adding to the conflict is the need of survivors who want to restructure and continue to populate entire areas which were almost literally blown off the face of the ground. Without those willing to start over, many municipalities will simply languish, and some fear, die. If Washington decides to restrict the national flood insurance program to conform with its future zoning plans for such areas, all in the interests of safety and damage mitigation, the infrastructure of entire regions will be forever altered.

Some cities, such as Pass Christian, Mississippi, the paper reports, are tenuously trying to infuse life into weakened streets and blocks. The Times reported only "about 900 of 6,000 residents remain" in the city. Davie Hurricane Relief.org has been told by one local official that many of the students who once populated the schools in Pass Christian are simply not present to educate. It's as if in one day entire sections of culture and civilization were instantly shrunk, cut down by the winds of nature. Just how these areas will be developed, and made safer, heralds a zoning battle the likes of which has not been seen in modern times. Rebuilding New Orleans is an issue on an entirely different plain and has public policy implications of unimaginable complexity.

All of this leads observers and thinkers in Florida to wonder. What if it happened here? Well, it did. But Hurricane Andrew was a relatively small event in terms of size. It destroyed large sections of Miami-Dade County, but it could have been worse. What if the barrier islands were completely flooded and washed away in a Category 5? Would the government allow rebuilding once the waters recede?Coastal development, an issue which has been the subject of serious debate for decades, could, with one giant storm, see the federal government try to change state and local zoning laws and plans in major ways.

The Times reported on December 11 on a recent meeting of the American Geophysical Union. According to the report, "With wealth and property values increasing, and with more people moving to vulnerable coasts, by the year 2020 a single storm could cause losses of $500 billion-several times the damage inflicted by Hurricane Katrina." As more and more development occurs, as population increases, and as hurricanes intensify in this active period of hyperactivity, look for the zoning and planning conflict in the Gulf to signal what could happen in the narrow strip of populated land that is South Florida.

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Where to go? That's where people in Palm Beach County who are being displaced from the last Palm Beach County Red Cross shelter are asking, according to a report on Sun-Sentinel.com on December 11. Palm Beach County has reportedly said those without places to go will be put in motel rooms on a temporary basis. Some forced to leave the shelter will be assisted by the State of Florida, and some possibly by FEMA. The article also states the Red Cross has spent $7.8 million on Wilma efforts in Palm Beach, Glades, Hendry and Okeechobee counties. The Red Cross told the paper that it is not a "long-term assistance" agency.

Meanwhile, Herald.com reported some displaced residents in Broward County have lived in the homes and residences of complete strangers. The generous homeowners have reached out to help those without a place to live out of the kindness of their hearts, and with much generosity. The article points out the Broward County and other officials have been working hard to find housing solutions for hurricane evacuees. Davie Hurricane Relief.org published an idea on November 3 advocating property tax relief for homeowners who verifiably house the displaced in times of designated emergencies. (See details of the idea here). Look for an update on this proposal and reaction to it this week on this page. It is not just Wilma evacuees that are affected. The Palm Beach Post.com reported on December 11 that Katrina displaced individuals who are being housed in Palm Beach County will no longer receive FEMA assistance to pay rent at motel rooms after January 7, 2006. Should they find more permanent solutions, FEMA may be able to help later. Housing remains a critical need that cannot be ignored when hurricane planning is conducted.

Hurricane Digest

A Simple Solution To Proactive Local Emergency Funding

Problem: Insufficient local funds for emergency relief in the wake of hurricanes and other emergency events. Problem: Lack of housing options for the disaster displaced due to insufficient funding. Partial Solution: Amend the Federal Tax Code to allow for a check box allowing taxpayer designation of one dollar to be directed to local municipal disaster relief budgets to assist with emergency housing and other needs.

This site proposed on December 6 that IRS forms 1040, 1040A and 1040EZ be changed to allow for an option like the one that which exists for the Presidential Election Campaign Fund. (See article entitled Amend IRS Forms 1040, 1040A and Form 1040EZ To Designate Tax Dollars For Municipal Disaster Funds). That option, created years ago as a part of campaign finance reform, is now a standard feature on all individual federal income tax return forms.

It is no secret that in times of large budget deficits, cities, towns, counties and parishes across this nation are hard pressed to fund emergency contingency funds. The Town of Davie is but one example. Created in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Town of Davie Hurricane Relief Fund was designed to collect funds, which, in times of declared emergency, would be distributed according to criteria set up by the Town to residents who need verified emergency relief. To date, despite the best of intentions, the fund has collected such a small amount that it was ineffective in the weeks following Wilma, and will remain so unless it is funded appropriately.

Strapped with multiple competing concerns, the Town, like countless others across the nation, recognizes the need for such a fund, and cannot fund it. In the months remaining until the next hurricane season begins, it is unlikely, absent significant private donations, that it will be ready for 2006 and beyond.

Expectations about what the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) can and cannot do in the days following disasters are often too high, and misplaced. We learned that lesson clearly in 2005. If there is a more limited role for FEMA, then the federal government can, and should, work to create a mechanism for funding of local efforts to be fiscally ready next time...and there will be a next time...somewhere.

One solution is to allow tax payers to direct one dollar of their taxes to the specific purpose of funding their local emergency relief funds. The IRS and U.S. Treasury could distribute the funds annually to qualified funds set up by counties and municipalities. This option can be ready for the 2006 tax return season, which begins in little over a year. Congress should immediately consider this idea as a way to provide future disaster relief which can cover hurricanes, tornados, wild fires, pandemics and other emergencies. Use of the funds could be limited to those times and regions declared by the President as federal disaster areas.

If financing Presidential campaigns is important enough to provide such an option on our tax forms, clearly no one can argue that finding relatively easy solutions to funding local governmental efforts to have meaningful emergency funds at the ready is not just as important. Frankly, finding ways to fund local, emergency relief funding is more important than funding the race for the White House. Best of all, each dollar is a dollar we would all have to pay to the IRS anyway. Nothing else comes out of taxpayer pockets. People would still have the same incentives they do now to make meaningful charitable contributions and take authorized tax deductions for those separate acts of kindness.

The current tax forms for reporting 2005 returns provide three dollars for the Presidential Fund. This site is advocating only one dollar to make this suggestion a reality.

Absent Federal Action, What Can Be Done?

If the Congress does not take action on this proposal, then states should amend their tax laws to allow their own state tax returns to include this kind of tax payer option. In states where there is no income tax, such as Florida, local counties should be permitted to allow property tax payers the option of directing a dollar to their own localities for proactive disaster planning. Since many property taxes are paid through mortgage escrow accounts, a mechanism for directing any funds directed by the tax payers should be set up to notify property tax collectors.

Absent State Action, What Can Be Done?

If state legislatures fail to act, and Congress does not initiate this easy and painless federal tax proposal, individual counties and parishes should have their own trust fund for collection and distribution of one dollar to municipal emergency funds.

In Broward County, Florida, voluntary trust fund contributions are collected with motor vehicle registration renewals. Tax payers can check off to donate $1.00 to an organ donor fund, a non-game wildlife fund, $2.00 to a child safety seat program, $1.00 to a program to help the transportation disadvantaged, $1.00 for Mothers Against Drunk Driving, $1.00 to help prevent blindness in Florida, $5.00 for election campaigning, any amount to Save Manatees and Marine Turtles, and $1.00 to help Guide Dogs.

Adding a category for local catastrophe funds to be distributed to each city and town by the County seems completely in line with common sense and sound public policy.

This plan can be ready and working within the next twelve months.

If you believe it can work, contact us at mac0202@bellsouth.net for further discussions. Your comments and suggestions are welcome. (Posted December 10, 2006).

For another idea on how to fund local emergency relief efforts, click here to explore the use of Development Impact Fees.

Please donate to the
Town of Davie Hurricane Relief Fund

The Town of Davie Hurricane Relief Fund has been established by the Town Council to provide help to those displaced by Hurricanes Wilma and Katrina and to provide a base of support for local responses to the challenges of future hurricanes and other Town wide emergencies. The funds raised will be for efforts not covered by FEMA, State agencies, the Red Cross, the Salvation Army or other major relief organizations. Donations are tax deductible. Please send your checks, made payable to "Town of Davie" to the Town of Davie Hurricane Relief Fund, 6591 Orange Drive, Davie, FL 33314.

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Bumper Stickers for DavieHurricaneRelief.org are available free, upon request. Please send inquiries to mac0202@bellsouth.net.