Unpaid Katrina tab has Guard hurting

Relief work - An overdue $2.7 million reimbursement leaves the Oregon National Guard short of operating cash

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

MICHELLE COLE

SALEM -- The Oregon National Guard says it's in bad financial shape because the federal government and Louisiana have not paid the $2.7 million they owe the Guard for relief and law enforcement work last year after Hurricane Katrina.

If the Guard doesn't receive the money soon, it will have to appeal to the Legislature's Emergency Board for more cash or be forced to close its 41 armories located throughout the state and possibly even two air bases, Capt. Mike Braibish, an Oregon National Guard spokesman, said Monday.

The Oregon Guard would still have federal money to pay for training and activities. But it would run out of state money budgeted for maintenance and operations by December, Braibish said.

When the call came for help last year from the Gulf Coast, the Oregon Guard dispatched 1,112 members to lend aid to the region. On Oct. 24, the Oregon Guard also sent an invoice to the state of Louisiana seeking $2.7 million to cover salary and other expenses.

Technically, the money comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and is disbursed through Louisiana officials. Despite months of conversation between the two states and FEMA officials, no payment has come Oregon's way.

On Monday James Walke, FEMA's chief of public assistance, said it is up to Louisiana to repay Oregon.

"We don't work directly with the National Guard as far as making direct payment," he said.

Walke could not say whether FEMA has already paid Louisiana the money owed Oregon.

"That would be difficult for us to put our hands on right away," he said.

Of course it would. Nothing suspicious going on here! The whole article starts here.