A Republican lawmaker in hard-hit North Carolina is accusing Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas of playing politics with Hurricane Helen after it ripped through the Southeast, killing more than 230 people.
Rep. Chuck Edwards, RN.C., implored residents in the area not to believe “outrageous rumors” about the storm response. open letter Published on Tuesday.
”[Federal Emergency Management Agency] “FEMA officials have repeatedly asserted that FEMA has sufficient funding to meet emergency response and recovery needs in the coming months,” Edwards said. “Secretary Mayorkas' statements suggesting otherwise are It was an irresponsible attempt to politicize a tragedy for personal gain.”
He also defended FEMA against “outrageous rumors” that disaster funds were being diverted to aid illegal immigrants, preventing aid from reaching its destination.
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Republican Rep. Chuck Edwards (left), whose district was badly affected by Hurricane Helen, criticized recent statements by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. (Getty Images)
“We have seen a level of support unmatched by any other disaster across the country. But amid all the support, we have seen a level of support sowed by the sharing of misinformation, conspiracy theories, and hearsay about the hurricane response. We have also seen an increase in unreliable sources attempting to do so, an effort beyond our control,” Edwards wrote.
This comes after Mayorkas warned the nation last week that FEMA does not have the funds to get through the current hurricane season.
Mayorkas was forced to clarify those comments in the same conversation with reporters, saying FEMA has funds to meet “immediate needs.”
The comments were met with skepticism from Republican leaders after Congress made $20 billion in FEMA funding available in the Federal Funds Act last month, with some North Carolinians already having enough supplies and aid. The tension was exacerbated by the fact that he was struggling with this.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) indicated on Fox News Digital last week that the House would work on additional disaster relief as soon as possible, but that won't be possible until November when Congress returns after the election. He pointed out that it was highly possible.
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Members of the Florida Army National Guard check a nearly deserted Bradenton Beach for remaining residents ahead of Hurricane Milton's arrival on Anna Maria Island, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. There, piles of debris from Hurricane Helen's flooding still lie outside damaged homes. , Florida. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Edwards said in his letter that he is already working together to prepare a supplemental funding bill when the time comes.
The funding crunch also led some Republican lawmakers to point to another program run by FEMA that provides assistance to illegal immigrants near the border, with about $1 billion allocated there in the past two fiscal years. He questioned whether the amount was taken from disaster relief funds.
But even though top Republicans like Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) pushed the claim, Edwards made this point in Tuesday's letter. He clearly denied it.
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“Disaster response operations and individual assistance are funded through the Disaster Relief Fund, a fund dedicated to disaster operations,” Edwards said. “FEMA's non-disaster-related presence at the border has always been a major concern to me, even before Hurricane Helen, and I will continue to condemn the deployment of personnel to the southern border, but we are committed to addressing these two issues. It has to be divided.”
Edwards acknowledged that there were “deficiencies” in FEMA's response, but denied that the federal agency seized private property or provided only $750 to disaster survivors. This claim was spread on the internet by unconfirmed sources.
Republican Rep. Chuck Edwards said disaster aid is not being directed to the southern border. (Helica Martinez/AFP via Getty Images)
He also said FEMA is not conducting road closures, vehicle inspections or restricting airspace for rescue operations.
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“Those seeking to transport resources into Western North Carolina will not be prohibited by the FAA or the North Carolina Office of Emergency Management as long as they cooperate with NC Aviation,” Edwards wrote.
This came after Elon Musk spread rumors that airspace had been shut down while FEMA was trying to disrupt the flow of supplies and distribute Starlink internet connections.
Edwards also asserted that Hurricane Helen was “not the result of government geoengineering,” pointing out that “no one can control the weather.”
This was in response to an online conspiracy theory that the federal government intentionally created the hurricane to take control of the region's lithium mines.
DHS did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
