FEMA centers in New York City ‘closed due to weather’

 The Daily Caller

Many New Yorkers likely think Craig Fugate, who runs the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is doing a “heckuva job.” But he may have some explaining to do after FEMA disaster centers in several sections of New York City suddenly closed up shop Wednesday.

Another storm — a dreaded nor’easter — is on its way, and FEMA’s response was to shutter the relief centers that have been some Hurricane Sandy victims’ sole source of food, water and other supplies. The Red Cross has also cut back on relief services as New York City braces for the next wintry wallop.

Salon reported that Fugate told reporters on a Wednesday conference call that some post-Sandy FEMA facilities and services “had to be secured or postponed during the [current] storm. … We are going to resume when weather permits.”

DNAinfo.com New York visited several FEMA disaster centers and found “Closed due to weather” signs.

A FEMA facility on Coney Island was among those affected.
“The storm is coming. We don’t know how hard it’s going to hit us,” Jenny Cartagena told DNAInfo outside that FEMA site. “I need some help now.”

Non-FEMA volunteers handing out supplies on Staten Island said FEMA buses disappeared Wednesday, and were no longer available as places for New Yorkers with no electricity to get warm.

“FEMA packed up and left,” volunteer Louis Giraldi told the website.

“We don’t know where they are, so there’s nothing here but us.”