FEMA Administrator denounces “false” criticism of FEMA after: hurricane helenHe said officials were on the ground before the storm hit Florida.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has come under fire in recent days over allegations that the agency misused government funds to benefit illegal immigrants and failed to respond quickly to illegal immigrants. disaster It's plaguing the Southeast. Now, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell is speaking candidly about FEMA's recovery efforts.
“We've been on the ground since before Hurricane Helen hit Florida and before it crossed North Carolina. What I mean is, just because you don't see anyone wearing a FEMA shirt, I don't “That doesn't mean we aren't in this region,” Criswell said on Monday's “Special Report.”
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The town of Chimney Rock, North Carolina, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024, after flash flooding in the aftermath of Hurricane Helen. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
“We are working with states to deploy teams to help them understand their needs and move resources where they are needed,” she continued. “We're transporting food and water, and a lot of what we're seeing being delivered by our incredible National Guard across North Carolina is supplies that we brought in. The entire federal government is here to support this response. We're there. We'll be there for as long as we need to make sure everyone's needs are met.”
Criswell said FEMA “has plenty of money” to weather both Hurricane Helen and Category 5 Hurricane Milton, both of which are expected to hit Florida later this week.
“We have enough resources to absolutely get through this hurricane response and the continued response to Hurricane Helen. [With] As for our budget, we have full authority to spend against CR and the President's FY25 budget, so we will continue to meet the needs of individuals affected by these storms.” she said. We don't have enough funds to last us through the rest of the year, so we raised urgently needed funds at the beginning of the year to ensure we can do what we have done through Helen and prepare for Milton now. did. ”
“I think what we need to do in December and into January is that we may need to go back to urgently needed funding to ensure that we always have enough funding to support life-saving efforts. I am thinking.”
Criswell also pushed back on claims that FEMA funds are being used for illegal immigration rather than disaster response.
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Homes seen in the aftermath of Hurricane Helen, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024, in Chimney Rock Village, North Carolina (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
“The Disaster Relief Fund is a fund that we use to respond to disasters, and zero amounts are deducted from that fund to support other activities,” she said. “The funds you're talking about are funds given to Customs and Border Protection and then transferred to us to help with some of those efforts, but nothing from the disaster relief fund. It's not taken away. Everything is going to be done.'' Those in need. ”
Criswell emphasized that FEMA is also committing additional resources ahead of Hurricane Milton.
