FEMA Muzzling La. Trailer Park Residents

Man I read this and I just couldn't believe it, FEMA is not allowing their 'refugees' for lack of a better word, any access to the media without having a FEMA representative present, to the point of actually running them off.

Source
FEMA muzzling La. trailer-park residents
By The Associated Press
07.20.06
MORGAN CITY, La. — Residents of trailer parks set up by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to house hurricane victims in Louisiana aren't allowed to talk to the press without an official escort, The (Baton Rouge) Advocate reported.In one instance, a security guard ordered an Advocate reporter out of a trailer during an interview in Morgan City. Similar FEMA rules were enforced in Davant, in Plaquemines Parish.
FEMA spokeswoman Rachel Rodi wouldn't say whether the
security guards' actions complied with FEMA policy, saying the matter was being reviewed. But she confirmed that FEMA does not allow the news media to speak alone to residents in their trailers.
"If a resident invites the media to the trailer, they have to be escorted by a FEMA representative who sits in on the interview," Rodi told the newspaper for its July 15 report. "That's just a policy."Gregg Leslie, legal defense director for the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, said FEMA's refusal to allow trailer-park residents to invite news media into their homes unescorted was unconstitutional.
Morgan City Mayor Timothy Matte told The Advocate that he was surprised residents were being barred from talking to reporters.
"I would think anyone who lives there would be allowed to have any visitor they wanted," he said.
FEMA leases the land for the trailer park from the city, Matte said. "It's public property. There's no question about that. You would think the people would have the same freedom there as everyone else has," he told the newspaper.

Source
FEMA keeps an eye on speech, not crime
Huricane survivors stuck in federal trailer parks must have big daddy FEMA present when talking to reporters.

Many Gulf Coast residents displaced by last year's hurricanes still live in trailer parks set up by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. FEMA charges them high rent, though: It costs them their constitutional rights to have a roof over their heads.

Reporters from The (Baton Rouge, La.) Advocate recently visited a nearby trailer park to speak with residents. To their surprise, FEMA officials insisted on being present for the interviews.

A FEMA spokeswoman told the Associated Press that department policy is not to allow residents to speak with news reporters alone. Americans displaced by hurricanes may not invite certain people into their homes because the government says so.

What do reckon is the deal with that crap? FEMA paranoia, Bush Damage Control?


Edit: I couldn't find the Hurricane Katrina Forum, it should probably be there I guess if its still up.

[edit on 23-7-2006 by twitchy]

Hey Val you have been following the whole FEMA mess in great detail for a while now, have you seen or heard anything that you can confirm or deny this? This gives me the creeps. Why would Uncle Sam not want these people to have access to the media, and is that even legal?

Well, I can't say I'm shocked...

If this is true (I've not yet been able to confirm it through other sources), it's pretty much in line with the way FEMA conducts its business. They believe that the rules of law and the protections of the constitution are things that can be set aside in an emergency.

I happen to think that in times of emergency, we need those things more than at any other time - but that's just me, I'm old-fashioned.

The residents won't speak up/out with the minder present, because they're afraid they'll lose what little assistance they've gotten. Shameful...

And to think, the folks (gagged) in the trailers are the lucky ones! Many people are just getting their trailers in recent weeks, and many more have yet to get one - despite the availability of tens of thousands of actual homes (not trailers, modular homes, the sort one could actually reside in permanently).

Nevermind the fact that the only transportation provided is to WalMart, so those stuck in these parks are essentially removed from the equation of public life. They are being denied the chance to get jobs and get back on their feet. Keeps FEMA in business, and keeps the 'undersirables' isolated. Can these people even apply for federal housing assistance? Nope. Technically they have homes, (the FEMA trailers), and because of that loophole they are stuck in limbo for the forseeable future.

No job, no money, no home, no transportation, no future.

Id say its in response to Anderson Cooper hangin out there and putting everyone and anyone on camera. Boy did they all have some choice words to say about FEMA's BS and the lack of help/support. They had a company that was ready and willing to move in 1100 trailers but FEMA wouldnt allow it due to it wasnt from the company that FEMA wanted. There were all brand new 25 foot travel trailers at a fraction of what the other company was charging FEMA. Even the head of the parish was cussin like a sailor on camera. Gotta love the good ole gubmint runnin our country these days.

Twitchy, you'll enjoy this I think.

Well..enjoy is perhaps not the best word...

www.225batonrouge.com...

I thought, rather naively, I could simply stroll the grounds of Renaissance Village, talk to the residents, maybe take some pictures and generally get a feel for how the residents were faring as they prepared for their first Christmas away from home, family and friends.

But the Federal Emergency Management Agency carefully manages and monitors information coming out of the Groom Road trailer park. Not even local law enforcement officials can get all the information they believe they need to ensure the public safety.

The first hint things weren’t going to be easy came from an old salt at The Advocate who told me FEMA assigns handlers to reporters, at least they did whenever the newspaper covered a staged visit by a dignitary looking for a photo op.

well, this is understandable, i mena if i turned away trucks with supplies and shot civies because they are scary and stuff even more sickening i would have some censor on my news reports to, strange that only one understands this.
nono, wait, it was for stealing...cause those people have so much left they are bound to be robbed, offcourse byt he news reporters, it usually happens

What i find strange is the fact that on news shows like CNN they can film terrorists from al quada and hezbollah with bombs strapt arround them in great great detail because they are actually inside there training camps, but they can't film some guys in there own country who are just victimes of a NATURAL disaster.

reminds of russia, or china, or No. Korea, when journalist from the "enemy" coutries come visiting....only now, it's our journalists who are "enemies? in our country!!

if also seems to reinforce something that I've been feeling for some time now. the more assistance the government gives you, the more they want a say in your personal lives. there's also a law that says these low income houseing units has to approve any visitors you have...some guy was arrested for trying to deliver diapers to his girlfriend, or maybe it was ex-wife, can't remember.

Wow..just WOW. Just got done reading this...

www.2theadvocate.com...

“You are not allowed to be here,” the guard yelled. “Get out right now.”

As they left, the guard refused to let the reporter give Devall a business card so she could contact the newspaper later by phone.

“You will not give her a business card,” the guard said. “She’s not allowed to have that.”

She's not allowed to have that? O_o

I think there is something SERIOUSLY WRONG going on right underneath our noses in the aftermath of Katrina. Lemme say it again...

I think there is something SERIOUSLY WRONG going on, right underneath our noses in the aftermath of Katrina.

This is not the sort of situation that should just be shrugged off. This is serious, I think.

Am I overreacting, or what? I don't think so...

Originally posted by WyrdeOne

I think there is something SERIOUSLY WRONG going on right underneath our noses in the aftermath of Katrina. Lemme say it again...

I think there is something SERIOUSLY WRONG going on, right underneath our noses in the aftermath of Katrina.

This is not the sort of situation that should just be shrugged off. This is serious, I think.

Am I overreacting, or what? I don't think so...

No. You are NOT overreacting. I too think there is something SERIOUSLY WRONG going on right underneath our noses in the aftermath of Katrina. Lemme say it again...

I think there is something SERIOUSLY WRONG going on, right underneath our noses in the aftermath of Katrina.

These places are being run like concentration camps.

The guard usurped constitutional rights and should be tried and hanged by the neck until dead. Furthermore, the idiots who think they legally have authority to order such a thing should be exterminated along with everyone they know or are related to. Lets see how they like it when they are on the receiving end of extreme misuse of power. If we can get a vote, I'll administer said sentence in the morning.


PS, yes I am just ranting. Well all except for that last part.

I realize the people are threatened that if they leave they cannot return, but has anyone actually left and went public wth testimony? I wonder why there isn't a huge uproar by the media. FEMA can try to deny it, but the occupants would prove it true.

I think the media will get into serious trouble if they report it as big news.

Originally posted by Patronas
I think the media will get into serious trouble if they report it as big news.

Why? And with whom?

Katrina survivors are being housed in concentration camps. It's wrong.

We predicted it. And we know the same thing will happen to bird flu survivors.

The time to act is now. Not after everyone is sick, and in shock.

I would imagine FEMA's "reasoning" (or what passes for it) is to protect the residents of the trailer park. At least, that's what they would tell the public. But I have to agree with the above 2 posters, there is something seriously wrong going on here. I have been trying to think of ways to get this news and the resident's stories to the mainstream public. But it seems that the trailer park is enclosed with all kinds of security, the residents aren't being listened to and the guards mean business. Anyone else with an idea? I sure can't think of any.

This is really horrifying. This could happen to ANY ONE of us. Maybe an enormous protest should be organized outside the trailer park. It would be dangerous, but what could be more dangerous than living in a FEMA concentration camp under lockdown with no to little contact with the outside world, left to just rot away with most Americans never knkowing about their situation.

Are there any members who live close to the compound?
Maybe pay a visit and convince one or two residents to grant an interview. Start an online news cast using podcast on ATS. It would certainly get attention.

FEMA Drops Press Restriction

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is ending a policy that restricted news-media access to its trailer parks.

...

The Advocate has published two stories and an editorial about the FEMA policy.

"You pointed out some very good points that we shouldn't be trying to muzzle the press," Stark said.

Duh!

I wonder about this.

Wow, that's excellent news.

I hope that the press has the decency to respect the privacy of residents. There are definitely stories down there, waiting to be told. It's one thing to respect privacy, it's quite another to treat people like prisoners. I'll believe it when I see it, but it's nice to at least see an awareness of the problem on the part of FEMA.

Thanks for posting that BH, makes my day.

[edit on 9-8-2006 by WyrdeOne]

There's still something VERY wrong with the picture that would allow FEMA to treat these people like prisoners and only remove the restrictions when the press pushed. I can only imagine how much is going on that the press doesn't even know about!