FEMA Tells Volunteer Firefighters In Texas

[Mike]

Go home!!!!!!!!!!

By Dave Mundy/[email protected]
Posted September 6, 2011 - 12:51pm


BASTROP — Firefighting-trained volunteers from around the state converged on Bastrop and Smithville Tuesday to lend a hand to the beleaguered local firefighters battling the Bastrop County Complex Fire — only to be sent away as federal officials arrived at the scene and took command, apparently because local officials never made a formal request for volunteers.

"We were at the station getting set up into strike teams, and this guy came up and said that the U.S. Forest Service had 'assumed control of the situation, and that 'If you don't have a vehicle that squirts water, go home,'" said Gordon Greer of Kirbyville, who drove all night Monday to arrive in the town beset by the worst wildfire in Texas history. "You've got guys who had driven all night long from Corpus Christi and Brownsville on their own dime, and they turned them away. He was really a (bleep) about it.

"There was a whole line of beige cars that came in this morning, tinted windows and such," Greer said.

A spokesperson with the U.S. National Interagency Incident Center, Jennifer Jones, confirmed that federal group of several different agencies would be assuming command in Bastrop County around 1 p.m. Tuesday, but had not done so when the firefighting volunteers were told to leave. April Saginor with the Texas Forest Service said her agency had not given any such order, to her knowledge, but promised to provide an update later in the day.

The question is apparently one of protocol, however.

The Bastrop County Office of Emergency Management announced via its Facebook account Tuesday afternoon that "Any fire mutual aid requests would always come through (and to) Local, State and National fire service and emergency leadership. This message sent as per Texas Fire Chiefs, TIFMAS, IAFC, USFA and FEMA. If you are a fire fighter wanting to volunteer you have to be activated by the National Forestry Service first."

The Texas Forest Service issued a statement Tuesday evening that it is not requesting firefighters/retired firefighters to report to Central Texas.

"If a person wants to fight fire they can: 1. Apply for a full-time Texas Forest Service position. We are not hiring seasonals as we currently do not have the time to hire, train and certify them. 2. Join a local fire department. 3. Members of local departments should not self-dispatch. Have your fire chief contact TIFMAS Coordinator Joe Florentino at [email protected]"


Several of the volunteers voiced their displeasure, however, at federal agents taking charge at the scene after appeals by Texas Gov. Rick Perry for federal aid following another series of wildfires earlier this year was turned down.

"They're willing to sacrifice the lives of the people of Bastrop just so they can come in here and pull rank," said Daniel Miller of Nederland, who had led a group of Texas Nationalist Movement members who were certified firefighters to Bastrop from the Beaumont area. Miller said he and several other members of the group would remain in the Bastrop area to aid with civilian relief efforts.

 

[Lonecowboy]

"

There was a whole line of beige cars that came in this morning, tinted windows and such," Greer said.

suits in a car---That sounds like lots of help at a fire!

 

[Sandhusker]

We're from the govmint and we're here to help.

 

[Faster horses]

That very thing has happened at wildfires in Montana and Wyoming.
Crazy stuff.

 

[Tam]

It seems to be getting to the point that people are risking being jailed if they dare to lend a helpping hand to their own neighbors. :roll: They are to just allow the incompetent suits of the Government to handle something that could be handled so much better at the local level. BUT those suits have to earn their 5 and 6 figure salaries by pushing their way in and making a bigger more expensive mess to be cleaned up by the locals after the suits move on to "HELP" the next poor person. :roll:

 

[Steve]

last year during the snow storm that took out miles of electric poles, we had service trucks from all over with automatic chains.. a few got stuck.. we had a tractor and heavy chains blocked in by one, so in an effort to help and get the tractor out, we offered to pull it out.. we were rudely told no,,

they brought in a heavy wrecker and moved the truck about two feet so it could get traction and for the chains to get under the tires.. unhooked and left.. the next day...

we were grateful for the huge response,.. but when you get told your help isn't wanted it sticks with you awhile..

 

[flounder]

He (PERRY) said the Federal Emergency Management Agency likely would arrive Wednesday and that Texas would seek federal disaster relief. He also said officials were considering seeking military resources from nearby Fort Hood.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/05/rick-perry-texas-wildfire_n_949659.html



Rick Perry Asks For Help From Washington For Texas Wildfires—Where Are The Tea Party Volunteer Disaster Relief Teams?



Texas Governor Rick Perry wants President Barack Obama to declare parts of Texas as disaster areas because of ongoing wildfires.


( Above—2011 Texas wildfires.)


From CNN—

'Texas Gov. Rick Perry is asking the federal government to declare the state a disaster area, a bid to spur assistance during a particularly potent wildfire season that has imperiled lives, structures and livelihoods in 252 counties, his office said in a statement Sunday. In his letter written late Saturday to President Barack Obama, sent through a Texas-based Federal Emergency Management Agency official, Perry said that above-average temperatures, lack of rain and low humidity have "caused extreme fire danger over most of the state." "The wildland fire risk potential has reached a critically high level," the governor wrote. These conditions "present a serious hazard to the lives and property of the citizens of the state."

I see.

Texans need help from the federal government because of things beyond their control.

I thought the conservative Texas ethos was that a man or woman controls his or her own fate.

This call for help from Washington is being made by a Governor who has engaged in treasonous speculation about secession, and who is pushing savage budget cuts on the most vulnerable Texans.

We should recall that while those suffering from the impact of wildfires merit quick help, many in Texas nursing homes or many Texans who are sick due to no fault of their own also need help.

Of course, it is no surprise that Rick Perry wants help from Washington. According to a map prepared by Texas State Comptroller of Public Accounts Susan Combs, Texas took almost $28 billion dollars in federal stimulus money.

I'd also like to know when the Tea Party volunteer fire companies and the Tea Party disaster relief teams will be rushing to assist people impacted by the fire? Where are county Republican parties in Texas organizing teams of citizen-volunteers to help out our fellow Texans so that they will not have to turn to government?

Are we going to allow socialized fire companies of public employees team up with Washington to do the job that everyday Texas citizens should be doing?

People who have been harmed by the fires should be helped. However, since many of our political leaders in Texas would rather people die than use the Rainy Day fund or raise the taxes needed to meet the legitimate needs of Texans, it is fair to comment when these same officials declare that some Texans are indeed worthy of help from government.

Let's be clear about the facts—

1. Despite all the tough talk, Rick Perry calls on Washington and Barack Obama for help to solve problems facing Texas.

2. Despite all the criticisms of the federal government from Republican political leaders, Texas received many billions of dollars of Barack Obama approved stimulus funds.

3. While I'm certain many very good citizen volunteers are helping out with the wildfires, the Tea Party movement and other Texas conservatives who sing the praises of citizen action are no place to be found in any organized fashion when help is needed most.


http://texasliberal.wordpress.com/2011/04/18/rick-perry-asks-for-help-from-washington-for-texas-wildfires-where-are-the-tea-party-volunteer-disaster-relief-teams/




Texas cut fire department funding by 75 percent this year

Posted on 09.6.11 By David Edwards Categories: Featured, Nation


Under Gov. Rick Perry (R) this year, Texas slashed state funding for the volunteer fire departments that protect most of the state from wildfires like the ones that have recently destroyed more than 700 homes.

Volunteer departments that were already facing financial strain were slated to have their funding cut from $30 million to $7 million, according to KVUE.

The majority of Texas is protected by volunteer fire departments. There are 879 volunteer fire departments in Texas and only 114 paid fire departments. Another 187 departments are a combination of volunteer and paid.

For that reason, aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) could be more important than ever to the state where wildfires have recently been raging.

At a press conference Monday, Perry promised to seek federal disaster relief and said that FEMA would be in the state by Wednesday.

While the Texas governor has been highly critical of FEMA in the past, he told CBS' Erica Hill Tuesday that now was not the time to worry about reforming the agency.

"The issue is taking care of these people right now," Perry insisted. "We can work our way through any conversations about how to make agencies more efficient, how to make Department of Defense equipment, for instance, more available. There are a lot of issues we can talk about, but the fact of the matter is now is not the time to be trying to work out the details of how to make these agencies more efficient. Let's get people out of harm's way."

Watch this video from KVUE, broadcast March 23, 2011.



http://www.rawstory.com/rawreplay/2011/09/texas-cut-fire-department-funding-by-75-percent-this-year/


http://motherjones.com/mojo/2011/09/drought-worsened-rick-perry-slashed-fire-fighting-spending



Did Rick Perry's Fiscal Irresponsibility Cause The Burning Of Over 700 Texans' Homes?

September 6, 2011 By Egberto Willies Leave a Comment

This is a legitimate question to ask. The question is whether the main stream media will examine the Perry record independently or will they be lazy and simply recite Perry's talking points.


http://egbertowillies.com/2011/09/06/did-rick-perrys-fiscal-irresponsibility-cause-the-burning-of-over-700-texans-homes/




"SEE how perry helps balance the budget in Texas ;


Fee meant for poor is used to aid GOP cause


By PATRICIA KILDAY HART Copyright 2011 Houston Chronicle

Aug. 7, 2011, 6:58PM

AAhh, air-condit­ion-ing! Is there anything quite so sweet as a frigid Freon-fluf­fed breeze on an August day in Houston?

The participan­ts at the prayer vigil organized by Gov. Rick Perry were treated to arctic blasts of the stuff Saturday, with Reliant Stadium's 12,000 tons of air-condit­ioning keeping temperatur­es nippy. But as historic temperatur­es scorch Texas for the third straight month with triple-dig­it misery, $650 million collected from Texas electricit­y consumers to assist poor elderly and disabled citizens with their utility bills sits idly in a state bank account.

Instead of serving its intended humanitari­an purpose, the state's $650 million System Benefit Fund now serves a political one — permitting Perry and other Republican leaders to keep their "no new taxes" pledge.

In February, the Perry-appo­inted Public Utility Commission voted to reduce aid distribute­d from the fund, allowing its corpus to grow ever bigger. The fund, a big positive entry in the state comptrolle­r's ledger of the state's fiscal condition, is now an essential tool in "balancing­" the state's budget...


http://www­.chron.com­/disp/stor­y.mpl/metr­opolitan/k­ildayhart/­7687224.ht­ml

 

[BRG]

That happened here in 2006 when the area had a lot of bad fires due to drought. The Feds came in and told the Ranchers to get out. You can imagine how that went over. They told them to F off and they kept working.

Idiots!!!

 

[hopalong]

Terry wrote
I thought the conservative Texas ethos was that a man or woman controls his or her own fate.

Been warned in the past about thinking Terry!! It taxes your mind beyond any help

Ok your turn to cut and paste more gobbligook as you always do when scorned, that and toss out high school drop out insults!!!
Go for it DR. lol lol lol lol

 

[BRG]

Perry only asked for help from the Feds after he saw U.S. military planes fly over TX to fight fire in Mexico.

 

[Steve]

Deleted double post

just trying to help.. summarize, brief, portion.. not the whole dang thing..

 

[Steve]

Just a note for fluonder.. posting an entire blog/site page is a violation of the copyright

it is important to use citations and give credit.. and not "steal" the whole works..

Fair use is based on the belief that the public is entitled to freely use portions of copyrighted materials for purposes of commentary and criticism.

Uses That Are Generally Fair Uses

Subject to some general limitations discussed later in this article, the following types of uses are usually deemed fair uses:

for example, summarizing an address or article, with brief quotations, in a news report.

just trying to help.. summarize, brief, portion.. not the whole dang thing!

Rule 4: The More You Take, the Less Fair Your Use Is Likely to Be

http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/fair-use-rule-copyright-material-30100.html

 

[flounder]

Terry wrote
I thought the conservative Texas ethos was that a man or woman controls his or her own fate.

Been warned in the past about thinking Terry!! It taxes your mind beyond any help

Ok your turn to cut and paste more gobbligook as you always do when scorned, that and toss out high school drop out insults!!!
Go for it DR. lol lol lol lol

:disagree:


damn, happenstance, could you please show me where i stated that ???

when you quote someone, you should at least make sure that person stated it.

 

[Anonymous]

Perry's colors as a "Teapot hypocrit" keep coming thru...Rants about federal spending- and federal aid-- and spouting off about TEXAS seceding from the union---but then he's one of the first with his hand out to get his share of the rake off the federal funds/aid .....

Just like his talk about cutting federal programs and spending- BUT then when the Administration announces the end of the Space Shuttle program ( a long time plan because they want to move to further programs) which will save the country $1.5 Billion per launch----- Perry whines and screams and blames Obama....And as it just so happens- the headquarters for the space shuttle is in Houston TEXAS..
Same as all the rest of the politicians- rant and rave against pork (unless its "their" pork ).....

 

[hopalong]

I thought the conservative Texas ethos was that a man or woman controls his or her own fate.


Looks like when all you know how to do is cut and paste like you do Terry sometimes you forget what is fact and what is fiction. EH Terry,

















[/b]

 

[loomixguy]

All the politicizing aside, I fail to see where the Forest Service or any other agency, state or federal, has or had the authority to order anyone, especially volunteers, to leave. At least in this state, the ultimate authority is the County Attorney. When it comes right down to it, he can tell the state police, the FBI, or any other agency to either get the hell out or do as he commands, and meanwhile, the county sheriff has to be the county attorney's lackey, whether he likes it or not.

I know for a fact that in this county, the State Patrol and FBI have been sent packing and told not to come back in certain instances.

 

[Larrry]

As long as the Texans still write checks to the feds and the Feds accept this money shouldn't Texas expect something in return. Just like all other fifty seven states

 

[Mike]

Where is the Tea Party Disaster relief ?

It's those volunteers Einstein. The ones that got sent home. You know, just ordinary citizens trying to help out. :roll:

 

[Larrry]

Where is the Tea Party Disaster relief ?

It's those volunteers Einstein. The ones that got sent home. You know, just ordinary citizens trying to help out. :roll:

Home run Mike. The left still doesn't get it

 

[Mike]

Where is the Tea Party Disaster relief ?

It's those volunteers Einstein. The ones that got sent home. You know, just ordinary citizens trying to help out. :roll:

Home run Mike. The left still doesn't get it

And I fear they never will. Why is it so hard to understand that the Tea Party is a movement of people from all different directions with a couple of like goals.

1-Make gov't smaller and less intrusive.

2-Stop the borrowing & spending.