OccupySandy feeds FEMA workers: Government incompetence at its peak

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Published time: November 14, 2012 22:16
Edited time: November 15, 2012 02:34

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Occupy Wall Street, Superstorm Sandy

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USA, Weather

What happens when federally-hired emergency workers can’t handle a federal emergency? FEMA staffers found out the answer firsthand this week when Occupy activists had to lend a hand.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy and an intense nor’easter that impacted the East Coast in recent weeks, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) sent employees to the greater New York City area to aid the millions of residents ravaged by Mother Nature. As RT reported earlier, however, FEMA put their efforts on hold when rough weather became a nuisance for the government workers dispatched to the scene.

“It’s just annoying when many people here need help, and they just didn’t do what they’re supposed to do,” a Queens resident told DNAinfo.com. “It’s emergency, and they should be open by now.”

Residents of the region were once again out of luck over the weekend, but activists aligned with the Occupy Wall Street movement — specifically those assisting with relief efforts under the umbrella of Occupy Sandy — came to the rescue. It wasn’t the citizens of Staten Island or New Jersey that were lining up for aid, either — it was federal FEMA workers.

Image from Twitter/@TshirtToby

Twitter user @TshirtToby from Minnesota posted a photo over the weekend of volunteers with OccupySandy handing out food and drink to a line of people dressed in matching khaki pants and blue “FEMA Corps” jackets.

“OccupySandy volunteers feeding FEMA workers in New York, via @TshirtToby,” the Anon Street Medics group wrote on Tumblr.

Quoting the RT report confirming FEMA’s suspension of services earlier in the week citing poor weather, the Tumblr page notes, “FEMA has since re-opened in NYC, presumably because the sun had come out and the birds started singing.”

Comments (6)

SuperiorEuropean (unregistered) 06.01.2013 14:09

Laughing at america is just too easy. 3rd world countries are so amusing when they pretend to be like 'real' countries...

Meanwhile, over in far-away proper nations that aren't digging up roads to save money, closing government funded scientific research programmes or selling off state emergency provisions in the face of the effects of obviously ongoing climate change...

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Catr (unregistered) 20.11.2012 02:04

The people shown are actually not 'OccupySandy' activists, even though that may be who took the picture. The Rainbow Rapid Rescue folks came out to help from all across the nation... from as far as California and Seattle, to pitch in and set up camp until everyone is helped. Rainbow family have no leadership but share an idealogy, that good people don't need laws to do the right thing, they will do it anyway. They gather by the thousands each year on public lands, and feed everyone that comes to camp for free and share what real freedom is really about. I especially love the clowns. This non group started gathering when the Vietnam soldier came home to a harsh non welcome... rejected, unloved, unthanked for obeying the government. These are the followers of the flower children of the 60's, the artists, musicians, loving hippies, the carnies and freaks - there are all kinds in Rainbow (anyone with a belly button they say is welcome), a sampling of society. Love them or judge them... look who's helping who.

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Lloyd H Weston (unregistered) 15.11.2012 12:46

I wonder if it occured to anyone at RT to bother getting a comment from FEMA on this report. Quoting a posting on Tumblr "confirming" your own unconfirmed story is really not a reliable way to get the news.
The FEMA newsdesk is open 24/7:
> FEMA-News-Desk@dhs.g ov
> (202) 646-3272
FYI to TOMMY: FEMA was created by Congress in 1978, and activated by President Jimmy Carter the following year.

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