FEMA Wants Their $ Back

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

77 Puna residents have been asked to return some or all of the money FEMA paid them in disaster relief. Some are cases of fraud, but many have had the basis of their claim reclassified, such as, can someone else own your primary residence?

Our councilwoman, on the job and working for residents, makes a good point:
“I just question the whole process itself. Why weren’t questions or verifications done early in the process before issuing the money?” wondered Hawaii County councilwoman Ashley Kierkiewicz.

Of course, one of the primary goals is to provide assistance quickly for those in need, expecting their paperwork will be honest and accurate, but perhaps this is a case where the gray area is exceptionally gray and deeply opaque?

https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2019/06/18...nce-funds/

[kalakoa]

the gray area is exceptionally gray and deeply opaque

But never politically motivated. That would be unpossible.

[randomq]

Darn, I thought this was going to be about Mayor Kim and the millions he is trying to redirect to Hilo and Kona!

Seriously, though, imagine the complaints if FEMA had waited additional months to dole out the disaster relief. The example in the story highlights some shenanigans: keeping a property in a parent's trust to avoid the taxes or liability of owning it, then wanting disaster relief as if they had owned it...

While FEMA was here I heard anecdotes about homeless folks claiming lost homes and receiving thousands of dollars. I just chalked them up to the usual coconut wireless, but who knows, maybe the Federal Government is smarter than they look.

[kalakoa]

Mayor Kim and the millions he is trying to redirect to Hilo and Kona

Keaau WWTP has better upside for the land hui, and Kim has been careful not to attract any attention -- even more careful not to spend recovery dollars, getting separate reimbursement for 132.

[leilanidude]

FEMA made it abundantly clear, multple times during the application process, that if you had insurance, and were later reimbursed by insurance, that you would have to pay the FEMA money back. You are not allowed to double-dip and make a profit off of the disaster.

There were also numerous folks that faked residence claims. One of them was a former tenant of one of my rentals, that had moved out 2 months prior. When I found out, I told FEMA the claim was fraudulent. They didn't seem to care at the time.