Speaking about the need to take quick action to weatherproof houses damaged by Hurricane Ike, I earlier recommended a concerned effort to immediately begin a program to put permanent roofs back on homes instead of relying on blue plastic tarps.
The experience in the aftermath of Hurricane Rita was that the tarps don’t hold up and the cost of rehabilitation grows enormously once water starts coming in through the roof.
Houston Mayor Bill White sought to implement a program to get permanent roofs back on houses along with repairing damaged doors and windows. This would have been directed only a low income households. The Mayor is reported to have offered to front the costs if FEMA would reimburse the city.
I am told by someone who heard this from city officials that FEMA said no to the mayor’s request.
That is one major mistake by FEMA.
