I just got off the phone with my brother who took 12 feet of water on at his home in Galveston due to Hurricane Ike. He is a hardworking man who has devoted his life to the City of Galveston. He has served as a Little League coach and as a Shriner. The Shrine is a charity that funds aid for burned children. We have a Shriner's Burn Hospital on the island. I could go on and on and on about his love of Galveston. He has painted and worked on practically ever landmark in our wonderful city yet where is our government as he tries to rebuild his life???? He is none the less working day and night to survive since his life has unraveled but also working to reconstruct the homes so many have lost in Galveston. 75% of the homes on the island were damaged. Days after the storm he was busy pulling out the molding Sheetrock that was consuming our community.
He asked me if I know anyone who has seen results from their insurance company or FEMA? He has not seen one benefit from either FEMA of his insurance. I tell him of a few who have found some help with their insurance adjuster but none of these folks lost what he has lost. He tells me that a FEMA rep called him this last Sunday. He called and asked how he was. He reply was short, tart and to the point. "We need help and we are not getting any. Can you help us? I am spending $30 a day to run a generator so I can live in a trailer I had to purchase after the storm. A trailer I could not afford but had no option but to take on this expense. My home is not livable. We have nothing. How can you help us?'' He says. The reply from our government official was this. "Well I can't help since that is not my department but we may be able to offer relocation service in the future?" Can someone please explain that statement to me? Why would he want to be relocated when his work in here and had been here his whole life. He needs assistance. You gave it to all the folks after Katrina and Rita. Some people who have never worked our contributed to society a day in their lives. The mews featured a lady who has filed and received benefits from Katrina, Rita, and now most likely Ike. She was crying as she filed for more aid and stated this this time she hopes they buy her a house. HELLO GET A JOB AND BUY IT YOURSELF LIKE THE REST OF US. If my brother and his wife wanted to be jobless and not contribute to our country would they now have housing or help???? I bet they would have a better chance. Maybe he should have jumper on top of his roof top and made a spectacle of himself yet he choose to heed the warning and leave when told. HUMMMMM. In my family we work and always have. My father was an immigrant who started his business in Galveston. He worked EVERYDAY of his life. He cleaned up our island after Carla and Alicia. Those were storms his home survived but this storm took out both of the homes he occupied during his life. I am glad he is not here to see the lack of help our government is offering. The lack of help from our fellow man. President Clinton made the statement yesterday that this is as bad as Katrina. So where is Brad Pitt when we need him???? Where are our pastel houses???? Where is our big hollywood telethon on primetime?????
My plea is this and I want mince words. Our government and the people of American need to treat each disaster equally regardless of the cities economic status or famous notoriety. Can we get some help here in Galveston PLEASE??? I will NEVER keep my mouth shut about the media being "blacked out" from the bad areas in Galveston. Why was this. Can someone offer some feedback please??? Why are you not covering what is important to so many of us???? I guess since its an election year you just don't have the time. Well people have LOST EVERYTHING so we beg you to please help them regardless of their economic status, race, or any of the above.
Please help Galveston. We need it. I have heard so many times in the national media that Houston was sparred. Are you kidding me??? So we were demolished but sparred is far from what we were. If you cared enough then maybe you would take the time to notice.
As a real estate agent in Galveston I have basically lost my job, yet not my will to fight for the island I so love. We will be back but HELLLO can you please lend a hand. You just balled out the fat cats who have loaned billions of $$$$$ on homes that certain owners should not have ever been in. No doc loans should not even be legal in my book but after all it was Bill Clinton who wanted, even the poor to have the dream of owning a home. I would love for everyone to own a home yet they should work, save and make the effort before doing so. This is how everyone in my family did it. My father-in-law bought 15 houses this way. He worked day in and day out to buy them for his retirement. He was truthful and factual when doing so. Did you know that some illegal aliens in Las Vegas own $700,000 homes???? Funny how they are not even citizens yet you they use our money to bail their desperate banks out. Now their is talk of giving them direct help. Atleast they have a home, even they they lied to get it.
This was my rant for the day and will continue to be my rant until Galveston gets some help. Please pass it along to anyone who will take the time to listen.
God Bless you all. The residence of Galveston certainly deserve many blessings.
Christina Strommen Stevens