In a bureaucracy as big and complex as FEMA's, there are bound to be policies that are out of kilter with the real world. But why would FEMA reimburse someone for buying generators and chain saws?

Sure, generators are a godsend to anyone who has lost power and has had to endure cold food, reading by flashlight and groping down hallways in pitch-black darkness. This has been the fate of hundreds of thousands of South Floridians lately, thanks to Hurricane Wilma — including a majority of the people who write editorial opinions for this newspaper. These are trying times, and many hundreds of FEMA employees are doing their level best to help South Floridians regain control of their lives. We applaud them for their effort and thank them profusely.

Nevertheless, we wonder about the wisdom of a policy that allows a homeowner to be reimbursed up to $835.97 for a generator as part of the total $1,676.65 reimbursement that FEMA allows under the category "other needs assistance." In fact, FEMA paid out $186.5 million last year to provide more than 220,000 generators to Florida victims of Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne, a spokesperson told Herald reporter Dan Christensen.

There is no need to question the motive of those who apply for and get the reimbursement. That's like taking a legal and valid tax break allowed by the government. Everybody does it.

But here's the rub with generators: Except in certain situations where continuous power is needed to sustain health and life, generators are a convenience, not a necessity. Even in hurricane-prone South Florida, the occasion for a homeowner to use a generator will arise only sporadically in the worst hurricane season — and even then generators are used for creature comforts for only a few days. FEMA gets the bill, and the homeowner gets a generator for life. What a deal!

The point is, this isn't the sort of thing for which the federal government should spend millions of dollars that might otherwise be used to help disaster victims who are in desperate need of food, shelter and other necessities. As a rule, those who can afford to buy a generator — Editorial Board members included — shouldn't expect to be reimbursed.

FEMA should spend those dollars on those who truly need them.