Kaufmanrider
Member
The point is even a state with high taxes, (PA), doesn't pay for all it's fire services. They use volunteers. I imagine that was your point about Texas not paying taxes, no taxes meant insufficient government services?
Wow, FEMA issued grants for 25 fires? 25 of 7,000, and that was in May. Thank you FEMA.
Now we are probably much higher in fires. Texas burns while President Nero, or is that Zero, watches and does nothing, again.
http://www.texas-fire.com/2011/05/denial-of-disaster-declaration-could-have-area-repercussions/
FEMA has given grants to assist with 25 of the largest fires in Texas since January, but the Texas Forest Service lists more than 7,000 fires so far this year.
“Considering the fact that we’re in the worst drought since 1917, and the highest fire danger level that we have experienced in my memory, I think that we are currently at extreme risk within the community for a large disaster,” Vincent said.
“Had we received a federal declaration of disaster,” Vincent said, “it would have provided for reimbursement of expenses to the local and state agencies who fought these fires. The majority of the assets used statewide to fight major fires originated with federal funding grants to the state of Texas.”
Originally, Gov. Perry’s request was for $70 million — the cost of the estimated expenses associated with mitigating the fires. “Nearly two dozen members of the Texas delegation, including our two senators, have written the President supporting the Governor’s request,” said US Rep. Kevin Brady R-The Woodlands. “It would have provided additional firefighting assets and made our local communities eligible for reimbursement on damages to public property and for costs incurred in fighting the fires.”
Jeff McDonald, the battalion chief for the North Montgomery County Volunteer Fire Department, has seen firsthand how the lack of proper fire apparatuses can be a major disadvantage when time is of the essence. McDonald recently was part of the effort to keep the blaze at Deaton Cole, in Val Verde County, at bay. To date, the wildfire has destroyed more than 175,000 acres of land.
“They didn’t have the apparatuses (readily available),” McDonald said. “They eventually got some, but it took days.”
