The Federal Emergency Management Agency is refusing to provide funds to help rebuild the small Texas town of West, where a deadly fertilizer plant explosion killed 15 people, leveled homes and a school. Remind us again, why do we fund this agency?

The reason why aid money was denied? According to a letter obtained by The Associated Press, FEMA says it reviewed the state's appeal for the funds to help, but the agency says the effects from the explosion "is not of the severity and magnitude that warrants a major disaster declaration." I'm not sure exactly how it could have been much worse, but the government has it's own way of doing things: Usually the wrong way.

West's Mayor Tommy Muska says they need the money to cover the $57 million in damage, including $40 million to rebuild a destroyed school.

You may not know, but FEMA was running drills in the area at the time of the explosion in April.

The news service said FEMA did not immediately return a call seeking their comment.

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