WASHINGTON – The Bush administration dumped Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Michael Brown as commander of Hurricane Katrina relief efforts on Friday, then abruptly scrapped plans to give $2,000 debit cards to displaced storm victims as it struggled to get a grip on the recovery operation.
Brown, who had come to personify the bumbled relief operation, will be replaced by Coast Guard Vice Adm. Thad Allen, who had been in charge of relief, recovery and rescue efforts for New Orleans.
The decision to order Brown back to Washington, D.C. – he remains as director of FEMA – marked the administration’s latest attempt to assert leadership in the wake of the storm and its aftermath – including the weakest public opinion polls of Bush’s time in office.
Still, there was fresh evidence of raggedness in the effort when FEMA announced late in the day that it would discontinue a two-day-old program to issue debit cards worth $2,000 to displaced families. Evacuees relocated to Texas, many of whom began receiving the cards on Friday, will continue getting them, officials said.
Hurricane victims at other locations will have to apply for expedited aid through the agency’s traditional route – filling out information on FEMA’s Web site to receive direct bank deposits, FEMA spokeswoman Natalie Rule said.
Brown introduced the program on Wednesday, calling it “a great way to … empower these hurricane survivors to really start rebuilding their lives.”
Meanwhile, the Commerce Department declared a fishery failure in the region, an action that makes federal relief funds available to assess and repair damage to fisheries. Fishermen will be eligible for direct assistance as well.
Thus far, the tab for federal relief has reached $62.3 billion, with billions more expected to be needed in the months to come.
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