FEMA Ship Lawsuit Tossed
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NEW ORLEANS — A federal judge rejected a lawsuit Friday that sought to keep a cruise ship docked here as temporary housing for hurricane evacuees. He said the question was not a matter for the courts.
The ruling on the Scotia Prince ship lets the Federal Emergency Management Agency close the book on its use of cruise ships as housing for evacuees in Louisiana and Mississippi.
U.S. District Judge Peter Beer ruled that it was not the judicial system’s role to take over the decision-making of federal agencies, but that he would “follow this matter closely and consistently” to make sure FEMA held to its promise to house people displaced by Hurricane Katrina.
The lawsuit was brought by Scotia Prince residents, who wanted the cruise ship to stay in St. Bernard Parish for several more months.
They argued that FEMA had not fulfilled its mandate to provide adequate housing for evacuees.
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