Florence Jackson, Plaintiff In Class Action Against FEMA

Plaintiff Florence Jackson has not received any Temporary Housing Assistance from FEMA even though she applied over 2 months ago. Ms. Jackson is 62 years old, and was a resident of Orleans Parish, where she lived with her 42-year old son, who suffers from epileptic seizures and cerebral palsy. Ms. Jackson has a herniated disk and sciatica. Both Ms. Jackson and her son are on disability. Like countless others, their home was rendered uninhabitable by Hurricane Katrina. Ms. Jackson and her son had no way to evacuate from New Orleans. She and her son were stranded in their apartment as the storm roared through New Orleans. After the storm, they watched the water rise, saw people on the interstate dying, and watched futilely as rescue workers ignored their cries for help. It was not until five days later, on September 2, 2005, that the government evacuated Ms. Jackson and her son by helicopter. They left their home with only the clothing on their back, and some essential paperwork that Ms. Jackson was able to quickly pull together. Left on a crowded, open field with little or no security, Ms. Jackson found a piece of cardboard to sit on and another evacuee generously gave up his cot for her son. While her son slept, Ms. Jackson watched, guarding herself and her son. She and her son were eventually herded onto a bus, and taken to the airport where, wet and physically exhausted, they waited for further direction. Later, when people were lined up for a plane, Ms. Jackson found a chair for her son, who was no longer able to walk, and pushed him inch by inch along the line until they finally boarded a flight – destination unknown. Ms. Jackson and her son were flown to San Antonio, Texas and then taken to the Kelly USA DRC, where they waited standing in line for 7 hours to register. They were told if they left the line for any reason, they would not be registered. Ms. Jackson waited, all the while praying that her son would not have an epileptic seizure. Finally, Ms. Jackson and her son were taken to the Kelly USA shelter where, for the first time in days, they were able to get out of their wet clothes. There, Ms. Jackson was diagnosed with pneumonia and an intestinal virus, brought on by the wet clothes and the exposure to germs during the evacuation. It was not until September 5, 2005 – a week after Hurricane Katrina had made landfall – that the Kelly USA DRC was equipped with telephones and computers. Using those phones, Ms. Jackson was able to register for FEMA assistance. Since then, Ms. Jackson has repeatedly called FEMA to inquire about rental assistance and each time is told that her application for housing assistance is “pending.”

(From Part III of the Complaint.)