That's Because FEMA Has No Imagination.

Via Dead Pelican, this interesting article: Artists create what FEMA can't even imagine.

It seems FEMA is at it again, proving once more than there is no amount of common sense they can't tie up in regulations and red tape:

“We have made a series of urgent requests to FEMA, but they simply are not moving quickly enough to help our people. In south Louisiana, families must live in coastal parishes because of their important jobs with the oil and gas and seafood industries, which are critical to both our state and national economies. FEMA will not offer them temporary housing to do so because of its obstinate adherence to guidelines it could waive,” Rainwater says. “When people are living in tents to be close to their jobs, does it really matter if they live in an ‘A’ flood zone or a ‘V’ flood zone? What matters is that they need housing. FEMA is clinging to a rule that doesn’t make sense in a critical disaster situation. The policy written in Washington D.C. doesn’t match the need on the ground,” Rainwater says. (Emphasis mine)

FEMA could waive these rules and - oh, I don't know - help people, but no. Sadly, it doesn't surprise me. Trust me, dear readers (I have painful first-hand experience dealing with FEMA), you will not find a more unimaginative, rigid, bureaucratic, illogical, inflexible, unresponsive and unrealistic bunch. If you have a choice to rely on FEMA for help, or a warm bucket of spit - go with the latter. It has much greater utility a disaster situation.

UPDATE 01NOV08: Someone today reminded me that all we have to do is look at FEMA if we want to see what government-run health care will look like. Good point.