DETROIT, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency allegedly was the victim of widespread fraud following heavy rainstorms in Detroit in September 2000.
FEMA paid $168.5 million to 87,648 Detroit residents for damaged appliances, clothing and repairs -- even though the heaviest rain and most of the flooding were in other parts of the metro area, the Detroit Free Press reported.
Detroit's emergency services director told State Police investigators at the time that most of the Detroit claims were fraudulent, according to a State Police report obtained by the newspaper.
A computer analysis of FEMA records found that nearly half the residents in some Detroit neighborhoods received money. Those neighborhoods, according to weather data, had the least rain.
Jeff Cusimano, a Detroit landlord, said some of his tenants told him they took their belongings to their basements and hosed them down.
FEMA officials say they must rely on storm victims to tell the truth.
David Williams, vice president for policy at Citizens Against Government Waste in Washington, D.C., says the agency's policy makes it too easy to dupe.
"Trust -- but verify," said Williams. "It's not their money, it's our money as taxpayers.
