Buried on the
CNN site
"After 1 day, FEMA curbs its debit card program
BATON ROUGE, La. (CNN) -- A spokesman for the Federal Emergency Management Agency said Thursday that, after a day's experience handing out debit cards to evacuees, it has decided to go back to the old methods.
"At this time, we believe our better delivery mechanism will be checks or electronic funds transfer," David Passey told reporters.
(snip)
Asked how long it would take for checks to arrive, he said only, "I would anticipate that money will begin making it to applicants in the coming days." (Posted 4:38 p.m.)"
Charming. Many of these people don't even have bank accounts! EFT indeed. And where are they going to cash checks if held semi-captive in rural camps? Seems like a good way to transfer money to those "check cashing companies", who are lowest of the low in exploiting people who need money via staggering fees and interest rates.
I notice he didn't say how many days "coming" was. Also, expect a lot of delay between "begin" and "finish".