As FEMA fends off allegations regarding disaster relief funding, a 2023 webinar hosted by FEMA has resurfaced, with panelists reshaping FEMA's policies to emphasize “equity” over policies that benefit the greatest number of people. It depicts a discussion about the need to emphasize the importance of
The agency held a webinar in March 2023 and another the following month, attended by panelists from faith-based organizations, private nonprofit organizations, local and state governments, and others involved in disaster preparedness and relief efforts.
Tyler Atkins, an emergency management expert who moderated the discussion, lamented that disasters exacerbate the disadvantages experienced by the LGBTQ community.
“LGBTQIA people and underprivileged populations are already suffering. They already have their own things to deal with. So when you add a disaster on top of that, it just makes things worse.” Atkins said.
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The 2023 webinar on disaster response efforts was hosted by FEMA. (FEMA)
Maggie Jarry of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) said that in emergency management, “the principle of utilitarianism, where everything is designed for the greatest good and the greatest number of people, has led to a focus on fairness during disasters.'' He pointed out that the transition is progressing.
The following month, a second webinar focused on “Response and Recovery Considerations” for LGBTQIA+ disaster survivors was held.
A man crosses a storm surge flooded area on the Gulfport, Florida coast as Hurricane Helen moves west through the Gulf of Mexico on September 26, 2024. (Thomas Simonetti of The Washington Post, via Getty Images)
The meeting comes in the wake of increasing emphasis on “equity” in FEMA's disaster response efforts.
A year earlier, in 2022, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren had appointed FEMA a new “equity advisor” to ensure “underserved communities” received fair access to federal disaster aid. ”.
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Progressives said the nation's “lowest income communities” and “communities of color” are most affected by “extreme conditions.”
“We have to address this issue in a way that not only fights for equality, but understands that we need to fight for equity, and gives resources based on equity,” Warren said. .
A month after those remarks, as Hurricane Ian batters the East Coast, Harris said the Biden administration would consider “equity” when sharing disaster relief.
Workers, community members and business owners clean up debris in the aftermath of Hurricane Helen on Monday, September 30, 2024 in Marshall, North Carolina. (Javin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Echoing Warren's comments, Harris told attendees at the Democratic National Committee's Women's Leadership Forum that “the lowest-income communities and people of color are the most affected by these extreme circumstances. It’s a community of seeds.”
Last November, FEMA released Achieving an Equitable Recovery: A Post-Disaster Guide for Local Government Officials and Leaders. The toolkit served as a guide to help local officials and leaders “build back their communities equitably, keeping in mind the needs of diverse populations.”
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The guide is structured around eight goals aimed at helping leaders “design and implement more inclusive and equitable recovery planning processes.”
“There is a lot of misinformation out there about FEMA assistance programs, which is negatively impacting our ability to help people,” a FEMA spokesperson told FOX News Digital.
“FEMA provides assistance to disaster survivors regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, identity, or background, and we want to encourage as many people as possible to apply for assistance,” the spokesperson said. “The commitment of FEMA and its dedicated public servants to immediately and effectively serve all communities is unwavering, and we will continue to fulfill that mission with integrity and fairness.”
Meanwhile, the unearthed March 2023 webinar came after Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas faced a barrage of claims that FEMA was running out of disaster funding.
Contractors with the City of New Port Richey help clean up debris left behind by Hurricane Helen in preparation for Hurricane Milton, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in New Port Richey, Florida. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)
“We're expecting another hurricane. We don't have the money. FEMA doesn't have the money to get us through the season and the immediate situation,” Mayorkas said on Oct. 2.
However, the DHS Inspector General released a report finding that FEMA has more than $8 billion in unutilized and unspent funds.
Mayorkas' comments came before Hurricane Milton was upgraded to a Category 5 superstorm and evacuations began in Florida. Like much of the Southeast, the state is still feeling the effects of Hurricane Helen.
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Helen killed more than 220 people in six states.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
