Katrina victims to get $2,000 dollar debit cards

[Qpid]

WASHINGTON - The federal government plans to begin doling out debit cards worth $2,000 each to adult victims of Hurricane Katrina, The Associated Press has learned.

Homeland Security Department Secretary Michael Chertoff descibed the plan in a conference call with state officials Wednesday morning. The unprecedented cash card program initially will benefit stranded people who have been moved to major rescue centers such as the Houston Astrodome.

"They are going to start issuing debit cards, $2,000 per adult, today at the Astrodome," said Kathy Walt, a spokeswoman for Texas Gov. Rick Perry.

The cards could be used to buy food, transportation, gas and other essentials the displaced people need, according to a state official who was on the call and requested anonymity because the program has not been publicly announced.

 

[nomoney]

Aren't they already given the "essentials" in the shelter?

 

[rack'm]

NEW YORK — Michael Jackson has written a song to help raise funds for the victims of Hurricane Katrina and will soon record it.

 

[mainman]

Aren't they already given the "essentials" in the shelter?

Obviously you don't watch the news...

 

[nomoney]

Obviously you don't watch the news...

I wish I had time to watch the news

 

[Steve]

Aren't they already given the "essentials" in the shelter?

This is brilliant!! Give each adult $2,000 and they are far more likely to up and leave the Astrodome than to stay and continue to look for handouts!

 

[cattitude]

They were handing out $1,500 debit cards already ...saw it on the news last night.

 

[nomoney]

This is brilliant!! Give each adult $2,000 and they are far more likely to up and leave the Astrodome than to stay and continue to look for handouts!

shoot, I'd stick around to see what else I could get out of the deal.....buncha slackers.

 

[bedazzle]

"Everyone is so overwhelmed by the hospitality. And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this, this is working very well for them,..."

~ Barbara (W's mom)

 

[Qpid]

"Everyone is so overwhelmed by the hospitality. And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this, this is working very well for them,..."

~ Barbara (W's mom)

and you see a problem in that becuzzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

[vraiblonde]

"Everyone is so overwhelmed by the hospitality. And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this, this is working very well for them,..."

~ Barbara (W's mom)

Yeah, now New Orleans' problem has become Houston's problem. Way to go.

I'm just glad Maryland is so far north that we aren't being flooded with these indigents. (And save your red karma - I am unrepentent)

 

[rack'm]

Yeah, now New Orleans' problem has become Houston's problem. Way to go.

I'm just glad Maryland is so far north that we aren't being flooded with these indigents. (And save your red karma - I am unrepentent)

They have some in Baltimore already. :shrug:

 

[vraiblonde]

I saw on the news that when the NOLA area jails started to flood, they just let all the inmates go free because they didn't have any way to evacuate them. Looking for verification but, if this is true, good luck to all the cities who now have these people living among them, free and unfettered. With $2000 to spend on booze, drugs and firearms.

 

[vraiblonde]

They have some in Baltimore already.

Baltimore won't even notice them - they have their own crime and welfare problems already.

 

[PJay]

(And save your red karma - I am unrepentent)

 

[rack'm]

I saw on the news that when the NOLA area jails started to flood, they just let all the inmates go free because they didn't have any way to evacuate them. Looking for verification but, if this is true, good luck to all the cities who now have these people living among them, free and unfettered. With $2000 to spend on booze, drugs and firearms.

There was something about this where the convicts had taken hostages and were sitting on a flooded bridge or off ramp.......I never heard the outcome.

 

[rack'm]

Baltimore won't even notice them - they have their own crime and welfare problems already.

I hear ya......98 Rock was talking about it this morning.

 

[Fishn Guy]

Yeah, now New Orleans' problem has become Houston's problem. Way to go.

I'm just glad Maryland is so far north that we aren't being flooded with these indigents. (And save your red karma - I am unrepentent)

We are getting boat loads of them and our case loads are goin through the roof. Glad I'm a geek.

 

[PJay]

I saw on the news that when the NOLA area jails started to flood, they just let all the inmates go free because they didn't have any way to evacuate them. Looking for verification but, if this is true, good luck to all the cities who now have these people living among them, free and unfettered. With $2000 to spend on booze, drugs and firearms.

No need for verification for me. I heard the same. Also heard a story of some of the inmates holding some family members of the guards hostage.

 

[rack'm]

WASHINGTON — More than 7,600 prisoners were transported out of the New Orleans (search) area to state prisons and local jails, signaling the start of major changes for the criminal justice system in Louisiana.