Max Smith, wtop.com
WASHINGTON — Their homes were destroyed more than two months ago by flooding in Tropical Storm Lee, today dozens of residents of the Holly Acres Trailer Park in Woodbridge protested outside FEMA headquarters, asking for help.
The group delivered a petition signed by about 300 people in support of direct aid for the families displaced by the flooding, many of whom still have no place to call home.
“We’re still in the same situation [as right after it happened]. The only difference right now is that we have a place to sleep. But not a place to live,” says one resident who has been staying with friends.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is funding state and county government cleanup efforts, but says because of the cost and amount of damage, “the impact of the event remains within the capabilities of Virginia and its affected local governments.”
“I don’t think the county … they don’t need no money. The ones that need money is us, because we don’t have a house to live in, or money to buy a house,” the resident says.
The group of about 75 people carryied colorful signs in both English and Spanish, “FEMA’s denial is our 2nd disaster,” reads one. Among them were young children, adults and students from Freedom High School.
The two people who brought the petition inside say the FEMA official who met them informed them that the state could appeal the decision.
Gov. Bob McDonnell’s office tells WTOP that an appeal would probably not be successful, and the state is instead focused on spreading the word about low-interest loans that are available to those impacted by the storm from the Small Business Administration.
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(Copyright 2011 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)
