Hurricane Sandy victims took to Twitter to fume directly to FEMA’s local chief today — and got only boilerplate answers.
Michael Byrne, FEMA’s local director, fielded around 20 emotional questions from storm victims on the social networking site.
The victims who wrote in were feeling doubly scorned in the wake of the hundred-year ravaging tempest that struck the tri-state area hard in late October.
A Queens woman with the handle @SteviesSara made clear she’s destitute.
“The amount of the grants given to renters who lost everything they own makes it nearly imp to start over.”
And a Bellmore, L.I., pilot and systems network administrator with the handle @nyma11 asked “why have I been paying for flood insurance all these years yet FEMA doesn’t have the money to pay my claim.”
Both times FEMA’s Byrne supplied unemotional replies.
He suggested the Queens woman in dire straights call a 1-800 phone number or “311.”
To the Bellmore pilot, Byrne advertised a recent bankrolled bill passed by the president.
“The President just signed a bill that expands NFIP borrowing capability by $9.7 billion. The money is there.”
One question came from a person who was asking about vacancies at hotels or apartments people who lost their jobs after being hit by the hurricane.
“does FEMA realize there are no hotels or apartments avail esp for those who lost a job due to sandy what help is for them”
Another 1-800 number was supplied but Byrne added the unemployed Sandy victim might be “eligible for our TSA or rental assistance” and told the person to check out options for “Disaster Unemp Assistance. “
The amused FEMA chief signed off writing he “loved” the Q&A and saluted storm victims tweeting:”We’re working to get New Yorkers back on their feet.”