| Not content with his shameful NO vote on Hurricane Sandy aid yesterday, AL-05 Congressman Mo Brooks tried to explain his reasons - and just made it worse. You see, according to Brooks, it's all the victims' fault. They willfully move into areas where natural disasters hit and then churlishly expect government aid. He also said taxpayers "should not have to fork out a nickel" to pay for property damage in areas historically vulnerable to storms. "People have to protect themselves from the risks of weather, particularly if they live in an area that is periodically hit by substantial storms," Brooks said. "They should not expect American taxpayers to subsidize a vacation home on the beach."
Now, let me think... are there any other areas "historically vulnerable to storms" where people live? Say, like Alabama's Gulf Coast - which gets brushed or affected by storms every 2.43 years & where the average length of time between direct hurricane hits is 7.42 years? Compare that to the devastated areas of New York (average just over 8 years between direct hits and is brushed about every 3 years) and New Jersey (hit directly about every 13 years and brushed every 3 years). Alternatively, let's look at another kind of storm that's also capable of devastating large areas: tornadoes. By the morning of April 30, the Alabama Emergency Management Agency had confirmed at least 45 storm fatalities in Tuscaloosa, but this was later corrected downward to 44.[8] Also, several small Alabama towns including Hackleburg, Phil Campbell, Rainsville, Harvest, Hueytown, Pleasant Grove, Tanner and Concord suffered catastrophic damage. [43][44] - 22 people died in Birmingham in 1977.
- Then there was the "Super Outbreak" in 1974:
During the late afternoon and evening hours of April 3, 1974, at least eight tornadoes, including four extremely intense and long-lived storms, brought death and extreme storm destruction to Alabama. Eighty-six persons were killed, 949 were injured, and damages exceeded $50 million. Sixteen counties in the northern part of the state were hit the hardest. Gee, sounds like North Alabama is one of those places that shouldn't be begging for aid after hugely destructive storms. After all, we're kind of "prone" to that type of storm, it appears. Oh, but Rep. Brooks disagrees: "I urge tornado victims to attend these meetings to better understand their federal assistance rights," said Brooks. "Some of it is in the form of loans, SBA long term low interest loans but there are also direct grants that you do not have to repay if you qualify, unemployment compensation, rents as you try to find a new place to live."
Is anyone worried about the upcoming tornado season? Because I bet those guys from New Jersey have long memories & they aren't going to exactly line up to help us out, thanks to Mo Brooks. |
