Court: FEMA Buyouts Not a Guaranteed Entitlement

Tosses suit over storm-damaged homes looking for money

HOUSTON (CN) - Owners of some hurricane-damaged homes in Galveston are not entitled to FEMA buyouts, as they have no constitutionally protected right to the money, a federal judge ruled.

After Hurricane Ike smashed Galveston on Sept. 13, 2008 President George W. Bush declared Galveston County a disaster area, automatically qualifying it for assistance under FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, or HMGP.