Living in FEMA Land

BILOXI, MS) June 3 -- What are people who receive FEMA assistance doing
to help themselves? That's the question NBC 15's Andrea Ramey asked
those who have been staying for free in hotel rooms after they moved out
of FEMA supplied travel trailers. What she found out is there are some
who are doing very little.

The scorching heat puts many at the Quality Inn poolside, but for
Gwenester Malone, she chooses to beat the heat by setting her thermostat
to sixty degrees. Malone's room for the past three months, along with
three meals daily, have all been paid for by taxpayers.

"Do you work?" asked NBC 15's Andrea Ramey.

"No. I'm not working right now," said Malone.

Malone says she can't drive and it's too hot outside to find work within
walking distance. "Since the storm, I haven't had any energy or pep to
go get a job, but when push comes to shove, I will," said Malone.

Just a few blocks away, Kelley Christian also stays at a hotel for free.
She says she's not taking advantage of her situation, but admits it's
easy to do. "It's too easy. You know, once you're there, you don't have
to pay rent," said Christian. "I kept putting it off and putting it off
and now, I'm tired of putting it off."

She says she'll be out of the hotel and in an apartment by the end of
the month. Push came to shove for Christian when police found a meth lab
in a hotel room directly below her. "All kind of people in white suits
pulled all kind of chemicals out here. There was enough to line up about
three cars worth of chemicals. It scared the heck of me," said Christian.

Taxpayers also paid for that meth lab. The men police arrested were
receiving FEMA assistance. The hotel owner says he'll now have to spend
$5,000 to clean out the room.

As for Malone, she says she's not seeing any drug activity at her hotel.
It's too nice she says. Why would she want to leave?

FEMA has not been able to provide the exact totals as to how much all
the meals and hotel rooms are costing taxpayers, but FEMA has said
repeatedly it works with people continuously to find permanent housing,
and it will not leave anyone homeless.

Since Katrina hit the Gulf Coast nearly three years ago, the U.S.
Attorney's Office in Mississippi has charged more than 275 people with
FEMA fraud.

Reported by: Andrea Ramey
WPMI TV NBC Ch 15
Mobile, AL
Email: aramey@nbc15online.com