FEMA Out At Sea

FEMA has contracted with Carnival Cruise Lines for three ships to house evacuees for the next six months. The cost is $192 million plus $44 for fuel costs and that amount will be paid whether the ships are used or not. The fact is that people do not want to leave dry land but rather want to start looking for their families, new homes and new jobs in their new cities, or back in New Orleans when and if they return As a result the ships are remaining empty. Has anyone truly looked into the cost of this debacle?

At least the concept is creative: Lease cruise ships to temporarily house Katrina evacuees. It sounds like a good idea, but that doesn't make it so. The federal government will pay $236 million to house 7,000 people on cruise ships for six months. That works out to $33,700 for every evacuee. Are you kidding? If you have to spend the money, I say do it. But, let's do something constructive with it to help these people who have lived (and still living) through a disaster.