by Frank James
Buildings and debris are seen floating in the Cedar River against a railroad bridge Saturday, June 14, 2008, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
FEMA recently sent out a press release with statistics on what it has delivered to the flood stricken areas of the Midwest -- 12.8 million sandbags, 3,222,000 liters of water, 213,120 meals ready-to-eat (MRE's) and so on.
But not on the list was trash receptacles, though the list does include 30 trucks for debris removal.
Now, anyone who has ever dealt with a flood of any size knows trash receptacles are crucial for disposing of ruined items. Cedar Rapids, Iowa Mayor Kay Halloran figured she could get FEMA to give her some large bins to corral the growing piles of debris in her waterlogged city. How hard could that be?
Well, she told the Des Moines Register, FEMA told her no. So when President Bush arrives in her city today, in addition to the federal disaster money she'll be asking for, she'll have a simple request for Bush, the most powerful man in the world: Can you get us some some garbage cans?
According to the DMR article:
"Halloran planned to ask Bush directly about a request she made to FEMA for 800 large, portable trash bins, which she said was denied. "We think we ought to have them, so I'm going to ask him," she said.
Bret Voorhees, spokesman for the Iowa Department of Homeland Security, said that officials had not seen Halloran's request and that FEMA, not city officials, is responsible for coordinating debris removal."
This could be a real test of a lame-duck president's remaining power. Can he cut through the bureaucracy of his own administration and get the poor mayor her garbage bins?
While FEMA isn't supposed to worry about presidential politics Bush, on the other hand, certainly would like to have as his legacy another Republican in the White House. And Iowa is viewed as an important swing state this year. Enough said.
• 
• 
• 
Comments
NOW it's suddenly the federal government's (and the federal taxpayer's) responsibility to furnish trash cans to cities? If a city mayor doesn't know how to find trash cans, why should that mayor even be in office?
How much sillier can these politicians, and Swamp reporters, get?
Posted by: Bruce | June 19, 2008 9:10 AM
For the benefit of intellectually-challenged mayors and reporters, here's one of at least 50 sites where cities can purchase trash bins: http://www.trashcansandmore.com/
You don't need some federal agency to do this. You just take 10 seconds on google to find this cite.
Posted by: Bruce | June 19, 2008 9:16 AM
As you might expect from the Bush-jabbing, the hand-wringing incompetence, and the fact that a Swamp reporter quoted her, Cedar Rapids Mayor Kay Halloran is a Democrat and a bigtime Dem party contributor.
Posted by: Bruce | June 19, 2008 9:24 AM
I'm wondering where is the Democratic governor of Iowa? Can't he help her get some trash cans? Also, it seems to me that a few calls from the mayor and governor to places like Home Depot, Lowe's Menards, Ace Hardware, True Value, Sears, K Mart, Wal Mart would be a good way to get some trash cans. Or what about Waste Management? A few phone calls to all those company's headquarters I'd be willing to bet would garner the Iowa City mayor all the trash bins she needs!
Again, Democrats show they are incapable of handling things. Republicans show they have brains they can use.
Posted by: Green Trees | June 19, 2008 10:45 AM
Here we go again!!...the media is trying their very hardest to turn the flooding in the Midwest into Katrina!! Why not....98% of the media is against Bush..so lets just blame him for everything!!!! If your lucky..the A.P. will pickup on this story and then..Keith Olbermann can list Bush as the "worst person" of the day! Get a new playbook guys....the routine is getting old!!!!!!
Posted by: joe | June 19, 2008 11:04 AM
I don't think anyone here in Iowa or anywhere else in the midwest is trying to compare our disaster to Katrina.
As far as "trash cans". I have to wonder if you are being intentionally obtuse or if it is just a natural condition. (I'm leaning to the latter.) It is not trash cans per se that the mayor is asking for. What she is talking about are the huge dumpster bins that are pulled behind trucks. I really don't think that's such a horrible request.
And Bruce, your site shows trash cans that might hold regular household trash. I don't think there were any there that would hold kitchen appliances, furniture, dry wall and all the other detriment left by the flood. The very large bins are what is needed. We have not had the tragedy that Katrina saw in terms of people dying or being sent to huge places with no food or water, but we DO have much damage that will require years of hard work and lots of money to rebuild. Large portable dumpsters are just a beginning of what we Iowans need.
Posted by: Efi | June 19, 2008 11:52 AM
* * * * *
"It is not trash cans per se that the mayor is asking for. What she is talking about are the huge dumpster bins that are pulled behind trucks. I really don't think that's such a horrible request."
* * * * *
Posted by: Efi | June 19, 2008 11:52 AM
You're right; it's not such a horrible request. But those of us who think long and hard about the role of the federal government think the mayor should have requested those big dumpsters-that-are-pulled behind-trucks from Des Moines first. What is going wrong with State governments, and especially those that border on the Mississippi, that they can't spend more resources on disaster preparedness and recovery? You have to know that assistance and emergency response would have been much swifter had Des Moines been better equipped and prepared.
* * * * *
I'm not saying this to blame Iowa, Illinois or any other State for being a burden on all U.S. taxpayers. What I question is the lassitude of State Governments. It is, after all, their role in our federal system to be the first to provide for the general health, safety and welfare of their citizens. It seems as though all State governments have reallocated their resources to other matters in the belief that the federal government is supposed to take over in situations like this. I think this attitude dangerously contributes to the compounding and centralization of federal power, and is foolish to boot.
Posted by: John W. | June 19, 2008 12:55 PM
I hope she's not hauled off as an enemy combatant!
Posted by: lochnessmonster | June 19, 2008 3:54 PM
funny how everyone thinks these poor people should not expect to be bailed out while the rich get a free ride. Time to protest.
Posted by: who cares | September 29, 2008 9:08 AM