Can someone explain this to me?

[Joe Biden 2020]

Back in June, we just got a foot of rain and everything was stopped for a couple days.  Today, the federal government DENIED Governor Henry's request for federal assistance.  How is a foot of rain NOT a disaster?  Does President Obama hate us because we were McCain's best state?

Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot that everyone in Washington considers us inferior to the rest of the country and actually think that a foot of rain that destroys part of Oklahoma is good for the country.

If it sounds like I'm upset at this, it's because I am, and I have every right to be.  I mean, we Oklahomans deserve respect around this country.  We deserve as much respect as the big cities on either coast.  We're not any more special than they are, but neither are they more special than we are.

[Ameriplan]

Because "little" states like the ones in the Midwest and Rockies, don't matter to obama because they don't affect his polling.

[Lunar]

Back in June, we just got a foot of rain and everything was stopped for a couple days.  Today, the federal government DENIED Governor Henry's request for federal assistance.  How is a foot of rain NOT a disaster?  Does President Obama hate us because we were McCain's best state?

Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot that everyone in Washington considers us inferior to the rest of the country and actually think that a foot of rain that destroys part of Oklahoma is good for the country.

If it sounds like I'm upset at this, it's because I am, and I have every right to be.  I mean, we Oklahomans deserve respect around this country.  We deserve as much respect as the big cities on either coast.  We're not any more special than they are, but neither are they more special than we are.

What do you want, specifically?  When it comes to administrative resources, I think that's mostly directed towards trying to stop the ongoing, epic environmental disaster happening in the Gulf.

When it comes to financial assistance, how much should be given, and what should the requirements be for the feds to dish it out?

[hcallega]

Back in June, we just got a foot of rain and everything was stopped for a couple days.  Today, the federal government DENIED Governor Henry's request for federal assistance.  How is a foot of rain NOT a disaster?  Does President Obama hate us because we were McCain's best state?

Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot that everyone in Washington considers us inferior to the rest of the country and actually think that a foot of rain that destroys part of Oklahoma is good for the country.

If it sounds like I'm upset at this, it's because I am, and I have every right to be.  I mean, we Oklahomans deserve respect around this country.  We deserve as much respect as the big cities on either coast.  We're not any more special than they are, but neither are they more special than we are.

We should probably commandeer some boats or something.....

I agree that something should be done, but in Maryland there was a huge blizzard that literally shut down the state and I don't believe that the feds got involved. Perhaps Gov. O'Malley didn't request aid, but at the same time something of that degree should primarily be a state matter.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Back in June, we just got a foot of rain and everything was stopped for a couple days.  Today, the federal government DENIED Governor Henry's request for federal assistance.  How is a foot of rain NOT a disaster?  Does President Obama hate us because we were McCain's best state?

Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot that everyone in Washington considers us inferior to the rest of the country and actually think that a foot of rain that destroys part of Oklahoma is good for the country.

If it sounds like I'm upset at this, it's because I am, and I have every right to be.  I mean, we Oklahomans deserve respect around this country.  We deserve as much respect as the big cities on either coast.  We're not any more special than they are, but neither are they more special than we are.

We should probably commandeer some boats or something.....

I agree that something should be done, but in Maryland there was a huge blizzard that literally shut down the state and I don't believe that the feds got involved. Perhaps Gov. O'Malley didn't request aid, but at the same time something of that degree should primarily be a state matter.

That makes me feel a little better, as long as we're not the only state to get snubbed by the feds.

Lunar, I agree that the FEMA assistance should be focused on the gulf, but I think it should not all be given to the gulf.  That's BP's job anyway to pay for that.  Isn't that what the $20 billion is for?

I don't want a specific dollar amount, I'm just asking why a foot of rain that destroyed many, many homes and businesses is not considered a disaster in the eyes of the federal government.  It does seem to me they have favorite states.  It could possibly have been that we did receive assistance after the Christmas Eve 2009 Blizzard, but I don't see how that would matter.  Unless, it's like a claim on an insurance policy.

I guess I really don't understand what the criteria is that the federal government uses to determine eligibility.  It just irks me that this disaster did not meet the guidelines.

[Torie]

Did the rain avalanche trigger Oklahoma or the relevant parts thereof being declared a federal disaster area?  I assume that was the case, because a mere zephyr these days, triggers that call, with certain federal aid then triggered. Was Henry asking for something beyond that? If so, get in line. Everyone wants dough, which nobody has, except through the US government borrowing, and that string is getting relatively close to being played out itself. So Henry needs to make the case that the US government spending on Oklahoma is more important, than say extending unemployment benefits, or stimulus 2 to keep public employees employed with no pay cuts, or pension reforms, etc. Maybe Henry should suggest that federal government priorities at present suck. Just a thought.

[Lunar]

Lunar, I agree that the FEMA assistance should be focused on the gulf, but I think it should not all be given to the gulf.  That's BP's job anyway to pay for that.  Isn't that what the $20 billion is for?

Good point, but my guess would be that that $20b isn't going to handle the federal government's costs here, no?  Like, maybe a beach hotel or a fisherman gets that money, and future money, but the emergency reaction budget is probably pretty consumed, but I should disclose I have NO IDEA WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

Cheers

[Ban my account ffs!]

What do you need federal assistance with?

Was there intense flooding?  Major damage?

Parts of southeastern Minnesota saw 15 inches of rain in 24 hours and up to 20 inches in 2 days in August 2007.  The massive flooding that followed destroyed 4200 homes and killed 7 people.  The area was declared a federal disaster area, though i don't know what kind of aid arrived.  I know the governor called in the National Guard to help during the crisis.

[Joe Biden 2020]

What do you need federal assistance with?

Was there intense flooding?  Major damage?

Parts of southeastern Minnesota saw 15 inches of rain in 24 hours and up to 20 inches in 2 days in August 2007.  The massive flooding that followed destroyed 4200 homes and killed 7 people.  The area was declared a federal disaster area, though i don't know what kind of aid arrived.  I know the governor called in the National Guard to help during the crisis.

There was indeed intense flooding and many, many homes and businesses ruined by flood waters.  There weren't any deaths in the OKC metro, but there were a lot of lives turned upside down.  Add that to the grapefruit sized hail we had just four weeks earlier and the twin F4 tornadoes a week before the hail storm.  It's just that Oklahoma has had a really horrible six month period, weather wise.  Families barely had time to get over one disaster before another one slapped them in the face or punched them in the gut, or kicked them where the sun doesn't shine.  The past six months have felt a lot like what Florida must have felt in the 2004 Hurricane Season getting slammed by, what was it, 4 hurricanes?

[Lunar]

The past six months have felt a lot like what Florida must have felt in the 2004 Hurricane Season getting slammed by, what was it, 4 hurricanes?

Do you have a link that calculates the maximum extent of the damages for comparison?

[Joe Biden 2020]

The past six months have felt a lot like what Florida must have felt in the 2004 Hurricane Season getting slammed by, what was it, 4 hurricanes?

Do you have a link that calculates the maximum extent of the damages for comparison?

No, unfortunately, i do not.

[Smash255]

Back in June, we just got a foot of rain and everything was stopped for a couple days.  Today, the federal government DENIED Governor Henry's request for federal assistance.  How is a foot of rain NOT a disaster?  Does President Obama hate us because we were McCain's best state?

Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot that everyone in Washington considers us inferior to the rest of the country and actually think that a foot of rain that destroys part of Oklahoma is good for the country.

If it sounds like I'm upset at this, it's because I am, and I have every right to be.  I mean, we Oklahomans deserve respect around this country.  We deserve as much respect as the big cities on either coast.  We're not any more special than they are, but neither are they more special than we are.

Oklahoma did receive aid from storms in May.  Oklahoma also received assistance for storms in Feb and March, out of the last 46 major disaster declarations approved by the fed, Oklahoma 3 of those were Oklahoma.  In that time period only South Dakota and West Virginia have more (4 each)

http://www.fema.gov/news/event.fema?id=12873

[Ban my account ffs!]

And rather ironically, people are fleeing the state with the fewest number of natural disasters on average as if there were a catastrophic natural disaster:  Michigan.

Poor Inks.. going to school to be a weatherman.. and he lives in the state with some of the most boring weather

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Gee, Obama has been doing so much for California and its high unemployment. /sarcasm

[Derek]

Back in June, we just got a foot of rain and everything was stopped for a couple days.  Today, the federal government DENIED Governor Henry's request for federal assistance.  How is a foot of rain NOT a disaster?  Does President Obama hate us because we were McCain's best state?

Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot that everyone in Washington considers us inferior to the rest of the country and actually think that a foot of rain that destroys part of Oklahoma is good for the country.

If it sounds like I'm upset at this, it's because I am, and I have every right to be.  I mean, we Oklahomans deserve respect around this country.  We deserve as much respect as the big cities on either coast.  We're not any more special than they are, but neither are they more special than we are.

You said it. Had this happened in PA or OH it would be a whole different result.

[Smash255]

Back in June, we just got a foot of rain and everything was stopped for a couple days.  Today, the federal government DENIED Governor Henry's request for federal assistance.  How is a foot of rain NOT a disaster?  Does President Obama hate us because we were McCain's best state?

Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot that everyone in Washington considers us inferior to the rest of the country and actually think that a foot of rain that destroys part of Oklahoma is good for the country.

If it sounds like I'm upset at this, it's because I am, and I have every right to be.  I mean, we Oklahomans deserve respect around this country.  We deserve as much respect as the big cities on either coast.  We're not any more special than they are, but neither are they more special than we are.

You said it. Had this happened in PA or OH it would be a whole different result.

Ahh yes, its a conspiracy to not help the states that did not vote for Obama, so much so that the three states who have had federal disaster relief the most times since Feb are states that did not vote for him (South Dakota, West Virginia and yes Oklahoma.  Its so much of a conspiracy its even reversed....

[Franzl]

Oh God...

[Joe Biden 2020]

Thanks for explaining things to me.  I can see things a little clearer now, though it's still murky.

[Eraserhead]

Back in June, we just got a foot of rain and everything was stopped for a couple days.  Today, the federal government DENIED Governor Henry's request for federal assistance.  How is a foot of rain NOT a disaster?  Does President Obama hate us because we were McCain's best state?

Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot that everyone in Washington considers us inferior to the rest of the country and actually think that a foot of rain that destroys part of Oklahoma is good for the country.

If it sounds like I'm upset at this, it's because I am, and I have every right to be.  I mean, we Oklahomans deserve respect around this country.  We deserve as much respect as the big cities on either coast.  We're not any more special than they are, but neither are they more special than we are.

Oklahoma did receive aid from storms in May.  Oklahoma also received assistance for storms in Feb and March, out of the last 46 major disaster declarations approved by the fed, Oklahoma 3 of those were Oklahoma.  In that time period only South Dakota and West Virginia have more (4 each)

http://www.fema.gov/news/event.fema?id=12873

Oh snap. My man Smash just laid some Truth on you, Okie.

[Derek]

Back in June, we just got a foot of rain and everything was stopped for a couple days.  Today, the federal government DENIED Governor Henry's request for federal assistance.  How is a foot of rain NOT a disaster?  Does President Obama hate us because we were McCain's best state?

Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot that everyone in Washington considers us inferior to the rest of the country and actually think that a foot of rain that destroys part of Oklahoma is good for the country.

If it sounds like I'm upset at this, it's because I am, and I have every right to be.  I mean, we Oklahomans deserve respect around this country.  We deserve as much respect as the big cities on either coast.  We're not any more special than they are, but neither are they more special than we are.

You said it. Had this happened in PA or OH it would be a whole different result.

Ahh yes, its a conspiracy to not help the states that did not vote for Obama, so much so that the three states who have had federal disaster relief the most times since Feb are states that did not vote for him (South Dakota, West Virginia and yes Oklahoma.  Its so much of a conspiracy its even reversed....

Yes and our proof is to look at the stimulus bill and see which states got more funding. I'm not advocating being dependent on the feds, but I'm just saying.